(SACRAMENTO, CA) The Assembly Health Committee passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, requiring health plans and insurers to provide coverage for the testing and treatment of inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) in newborn children that, if untreated, may result in death, coma, seizures, cardiovascular disease, and mental retardation.

Sponsored by the March of Dimes, Assembly Bill 30 passed with a 12-5 vote.  It now passes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further review.

“California spends millions of dollars to screen children for metabolic disorders,” said Evans.  “But we can’t identify a health problem in babies only to abandon them.  We must make sure these babies are treated.”

Persons with IEMs have genetic disorders that affect their ability to digest foods and metabolize nutrients.  AB 30 will make sure that the special formulas, food products, and nutritional supplements needed to treat IEMs are covered by all health plans and insurers in California.  Today, only 39 percent of the privately insured population of California has coverage for the medical nutrition therapy for IEM disorders.

“Every child deserves a healthy start to life,” said Keith Nash, State Public Affairs Director for the March of Dimes.  “This legislation will help the sickest of all babies get the treatment they need for a healthy life.”

The average annual per patient cost for IEM treatment is roughly $3,000 for formula, $1,000 for special food products, and $2,000 for nutritional supplements.  By requiring coverage for IEM treatment, AB 30 would result in an estimated one cent monthly premiums increase.  When combined with treatment, early diagnosis of IEMs could avoid annual economic losses of $140.5 million, $46.7 million in Medi-Cal expenses, and $23.3 million General Fund expenses from providing services like in-home care.

“A penny spent today will save us millions tomorrow,” added Evans.  “This opportunity is too good to pass up.”

California’s Newborn Screening Program tests all newborns for 47 different IEMs as well as four endocrine and 24 hemoglobin disorders.  These rare disorders occur in roughly one birth within 5,000.  However, under current law, coverage for treatment is required for only one type of IEM called phenylketonuria.

One hundred percent of medical nutritional therapy is covered by public programs administered by the state Department of Health Services: the California Children’s Services Program and the Genetically Handicapped Person’s Program.  These programs benefit families covered by Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and privately insured residents who make less than $40,000 per year.

Further information about AB 30 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.