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Financing newborn screening systems: US experience
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. therrell@uthscsa.edu
Insights
Newborn screening (NBS) programs in the US vary significantly by state. This review examines current financing issues and methodologies for these essential public health services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Genetics
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Newborn screening (NBS) has been a public health initiative in the US since the 1960s.
- NBS is mandated in all 51 US state jurisdictions, offering significant benefits by mitigating adverse outcomes of screened conditions.
- Current NBS programs operate independently across states, leading to variations in policies, infrastructure, procedures, and services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current financing issues within US newborn screening programs.
- To examine the diverse methodologies employed for funding NBS services across different states.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and surveys on NBS financing.
- Analysis of state-specific NBS program costs and funding streams.
Main Results:
- US NBS programs lack a unified national policy, resulting in 51 distinct state-level systems.
- Financing methods for NBS programs vary considerably among states.
- Surveys indicate a growing reliance on fees to cover screening tests and short-term follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The decentralized nature of US NBS programs contributes to variations in financing.
- Understanding current financing issues and methodologies is crucial for the sustainability and equity of NBS.
- Further examination of NBS funding models is needed to ensure comprehensive and consistent public health benefits.
Abstract:
Newborn screening (NBS) in the United States (US) has existed since the early 1960s and is required in all 51 state jurisdictions. It is generally recognised that NBS provides a significant public health benefit by preventing or markedly decreasing the adverse medical consequences of conditions included in the screening panel. There is currently no US national NBS policy, so instead there are 51 independent state programmes that vary widely in their policies, infrastructures, procedures and services. Not surprisingly, US NBS programme costs and methods of financing also vary. Surveys have increasingly found a reliance on fees to pay for screening tests, short-term follow-up and other parts of state NBS systems. This article reviews some of the current US NBS financing issues and methodologies.
