BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 1095 (Pan) - Newborn screening program ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: February 17, 2016 |Policy Vote: HEALTH 9 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 27, 2016 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Summary: SB 1095 would require the Department of Public Health to expand the existing newborn screening program to include any condition that has been adopted by the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. *********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE *********** The following information is revised to reflect amendments adopted by the committee on May 27, 2016 Fiscal Impact: One-time costs of $2.4 million and ongoing costs of $4.3 million per year to screen for two diseases (MPS-1 and Pompe disease) that have already been approved for inclusion in the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (Genetic Disease Testing Fund). The ongoing costs above would cover initial screening tests, follow up tests for positive results, and initial case management for confirmed diagnoses. Adding these SB 1095 (Pan) Page 1 of ? two conditions would require an increase in the existing $113 fee charged for screening by about $9. Most health insurance, including Medi-Cal, cover the costs of the screening fee. Ongoing costs of about $2.5 million per year for coverage of the increased screening fee by the Medi-Cal program (General Fund and federal funds). Medi-Cal covers the cost of the screening exam and Medi-Cal pays for about 50% of the births in the state. Unknown future costs to include additional diseases in the state's newborn screening program as they are added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (Genetic Disease Testing Fund). The costs to include additional diseases will vary depending on the specific costs for testing of that disease. In recent years, anticipated costs to include additional diseases in the state's newborn screening program have generally been in the low millions per condition, per year. Likely long-term savings due to improved clinical outcomes from early testing and treatment (various funds). When considering whether to include additional diseases in the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, the federal advisory committee considers issues such as the reliability of the screening test, the availability of treatments, the benefits of early diagnosis, and the anticipated impact on health outcomes from additional screening. Specific information about the long-term impacts on health outcomes or avoided health care costs are often not available, because the diseases that are considered for inclusion are rare and treatments are evolving rapidly. However, new diseases are added when the advisory panel finds that there are benefits from screening, primarily the ability to avoid long-term health consequences with early intervention. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that including additional diseases that have been approved by the federal government will reduce state health care spending in the long-run. Author Amendments: make technical corrections. SB 1095 (Pan) Page 2 of ? -- END --