Rep. Dan Swanson has yet another bill he sponsored that’s become law, this time aimed at saving newborns’ lives.
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday signed the measure which will require newborns be screened for spinal muscular atrophy, a leading cause of death for babies.
Already Missouri, New York, Texas and recently Indiana have moved to require the screenings.
Swanson says that SMA can be treated but it must be detected early to be most effective.
“What it will do is add another test at childbirth for Spinal Muscular Atrophy,” Swanson told WGIL. “Basically, the connections from the brain to the is lost in transmission through the spinal cord and through treatment and medication we can rebuild that communications link from the brain to the legs and begin to see improvements.”
Four other states already require newborn screening for SMA including Missouri, Texas, New York and Indiana.
Implementing the law in Illinois will cost $615,000 initially, which will result in a $10 increase to the Newborn Metabolic Screenings fee.
SMA is a genetic disease that affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement
Prior to the Aug. 6 Galesburg City Council meeting, Mayor John Pritchard read a proclamation as August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month.
