Program Overview:
Most babies arrive
into the world healthy. However, Florida screens all babies for various
conditions soon after birth because a few babies look healthy but have a
rare health problem. Before you leave the hospital, a few drops of blood
will be taken from the heel of your baby. The hospital will send the blood
sample to the Florida Newborn Screening Lab in Jacksonville. All results
are sent back to the hospital or birthing center. Your baby's doctor will
be given the results by the hospital or he/she can obtain the results from
the
Florida Newborn Screening Results website. If the screening process
can find problems early, qualified health care professionals in Florida
may prevent serious problems like mental retardation or death from
happening to your newborn.
Since early detection and
treatment are so important with these conditions, be sure to tell the
hospital the correct name and phone number of your baby's doctor so they
can reach you if the screening results for your baby are abnormal. If your
baby's doctor does contact you, it does not mean that your newborn has the
condition but it is important that you follow the doctor's instructions
immediately in order to determine if treatment will be necessary. If you
do not hear from your doctor, make sure you ask about the results when you
see your baby's doctor for his/her first appointment.
How is Newborn
Screening Paid for in Florida?
Newborn Screening services in Florida are jointly funded through billing
Medicaid and private insurance for the newborn screening tests and a
$15.00 fee paid by birthing facilities for each live birth. Florida
Newborn Screening does not bill families without insurance coverage. |
