Why Break a Working System?

The Healthy Hearts of Babies Act in 2015 is a common-sense law makes sure that all newborns are screened for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) using pulse oximetry, which is the most effective way to screen for CCHD. We know this screening works. However, now there is a threat to this mandated screening. New legislation in the DC Council would continue to require CCHD screening, but would eliminate the provision that it be done using pulse oximetry. Let the DC Council know that you value all newborns in the District having the chance at heart health. Tell them to keep the pulse oximetry requirement in the BABIES Act.

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Subject:

Why Break a Working System?

Dear Official,

As a District resident, I am writing about the BABIES Act, B22-758. I urge you to keep the requirement that pulse oximetry be the method used to screen all newborns for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD), the most serious, and often deadly form of heart defects.

I supported the Council’s passage of the Healthy Hearts of Babies Act in 2015. This common-sense law makes sure that all newborns are screened for CCHD using pulse oximetry, which is the most effective way to screen for CCHD. In fact, CCHD screening using pulse oximetry can detect 90% of all CCHD in newborns, compared to less than 50% using other methods.

The BABIES Act would continue mandating CCHD screening for all newborns, but would eliminate the common-sense requirement that it be done with pulse oximetry, the current medical best practice and standard of care. Forty-eight sates and DC currently require CCHD screening for all newborns using pulse oximetry. Why would the District want to be one of only 3 states not requiring such a simple, life-saving test? Please include the pulse oximetry language from the Healthy Hearts of Babies Act in the new BABIES bill.

Pulse oximetry screening is a low-cost, non-invasive, and painless test that takes as little as 45 seconds. Pulse oximetry testing estimates the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen. Low saturation triggers additional testing to detect heart defects or other life-threatening conditions. This simple test can literally save a baby’s life. Without it, a seemingly healthy baby may go home with an undiagnosed CCHD, and often the only symptom is death. This is a preventable tragedy. Over 9,500 babies are born in DC each year, and up to 100 may be born with these serious CCHDs.

There are 6,000 deaths in the US each year due to congenital heart defects, including 200 attributable to missed diagnosis of a CCHD. Twenty-seven percent of infant deaths from birth defects are due to CCHDs, but this can be largely prevented by screening all newborns for CCHD using pulse oximetry

I strongly urge you to protect the lives of District babies and prevent tragedies by including the pulse oximetry provision from the Heaty Hearts of Babies law into the BABIES Act. This is truly a matter of life and death.

Regards, Your Name

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