The department anticipates that adding Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy to standard newborn screenings will allow children to have earlier access to therapies and treatments.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has approved the addition of two diseases, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). The RUSP is a list of conditions that the federal health secretary recommends that all newborns be screened for in the U.S.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said, “Early screening gives every child a fair chance at timely, effective care, and it delivers families the answers and treatment options they deserve—right when they need them most.”
Children have typically not been diagnosed with DMD or MLD until they are four to five years of age, at which point they have already experienced significant muscle loss or functional decline. The health department expects that promoting earlier detection of the conditions will allow children to receive important therapies sooner, which will help to improve their quality of life and slow the progression of the condition.
Each state determines whether or not to adopt the screenings.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For God to direct Secretary Kennedy as he leads the Department of Health and Human Services.
- For U.S. health officials as they promote the integration of these screenings into the set that states will administer for newborns.
Sources: Department of Health and Human Services,
