The March of Dimes lobbied state legislators on Tuesday to increase the screening fee for newborns in North Carolina by almost five dollars to include testing for cystic fibrosis.

The state currently screens newborns for 26 out of 29 core conditions recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics at a cost of $14 per child. The additional screening would increase the fee to $18.91, covering the screening as well as counseling for families of infants who test positive.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. It affects about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. About 1,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. According to the March of Dimes, 40 states and the District of Columbia now screen newborns for the disease.

Children's advocates also lobbied lawmakers to support expansion of N.C. Health Choice for Children, a free or reduced price health program for children. The expansion would allow an additional 10,683 children to be covered at an estimated cost of $10,387,650.

Related Links

1. North Carolina Health Choice for Children
2. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation