Demand these states add mandatory heart screening for newborns

  • by: Kristine Brite McCormick, CorasStory.com
  • recipient: State legislators, Department of Health heads, and the governor in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, Wyoming, Kansas, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Mississippi

You don't have to live in one of these states to sign! If you care about the health of babies, please demand they are screened for heart defects by signing this petition. 

Newborn heart screening (or CCHD screening with pulse oximetry) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a screening for all newborns. Every state except for  Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania Arizona, Hawaii, Wyoming, Kansas, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Mississippi has added the screening, either through legislation or addition to the newborn screening panel.

Newborns in these states are getting substandard care! The health of your smallest citizens is at risk. Newborns can leave the hospital with a serious heart defect, resulting in delay, permanent harm and even death. 

Clear protocols exist for screening in these states. Neighboring states with simliar infrastructure have added the screening. 

Somes states are saying that most newborns in their states are being screened, so regulation or legislation is not necessary, however, that's playing a dangerous game with a serious issue. If even one newborn in your state is not screened, babies are not safe. Heart defects often have no genetic link, no clear cause and sometimes aren't apparent, so that one baby could be the baby with a congenital heart defect, that could be found through pulse oximetry screening. 

Cora Mae McCormick is one of the babies that wasn't screened. She went home from the hospital and died in her mother's arms. She inspired this petition. Cora's Story 

While the screening doesn't find every heart defect, it closes a diagnostic gap, and with screening, over 90 percent of heart defects can be found, before a baby leaves the hospital. 

Dear legislators, department of health officials and governor in Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania Arizona, Hawaii, Wyoming, Kansas, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Mississippi:


Your newborns are receiving substandard care. You haven't added screening for critical congenital heart defects to your newborn screening panel. 


CCHD screening is a non-invasive, fast and cost-effective screening for the most common of all birth defects. 


Over 40 states have gotten it right, yet babies in your state remain at risk if they are not all screened. 


Why would you want to lag behind in the most important of all issues, the health and well-being of your smallest children. 


Sincerely, 


The Undersigned

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