No. SB 1574
Filed under Healthcare.
Newborn Screenings; Citing this act as “Mattie’s Law”; requiring that newborns, beginning on a specified date, be screened for biliary atresia; requiring the Department of Health to consult with the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council before adopting certain rules; requiring hospitals that provide birthing services to screen for biliary atresia in a specified manner, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDBeginning January 1, 2027, every newborn in Florida must be screened for biliary atresia, a serious liver condition, by testing direct bilirubin levels using the same blood specimen already collected for standard newborn screenings.
Hospitals that provide birthing services carry their own separate statutory duty to perform this screening, on top of the Department of Health's rule requiring it statewide.
The Department of Health must also run a statewide public education campaign by October 1, 2026, teaching parents the symptoms of biliary atresia and training physicians, osteopathic physicians, and nurses to identify it early.
A separate change narrows when the department must consult the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council, from before adopting any newborn screening rule to only before rules on screening methods, follow-up, or adding new conditions.
AIBeginning January 1, 2027, every newborn in Florida must be screened for biliary atresia by testing direct bilirubin levels, using the same blood specimen already collected for other newborn screenings rather than a separate draw.
AIA new, standalone statute independently requires any hospital that provides birthing services to screen newborns for biliary atresia, on top of the Department of Health's rulemaking duty under section 383.14.
AIThe Department of Health must implement a statewide public health education campaign by October 1, 2026, that at minimum teaches parents to recognize biliary atresia's symptoms and trains physicians, osteopathic physicians, and nurses to identify it.
AIConsultation with the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council, previously required before the department adopted any rule under this subsection, is now required only before rules specifically covering screening methods, follow-up procedures, or adding new conditions.