STATEHOUSE (Feb. 23, 2022) – The Indiana Senate voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a pair of bills authored by State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) to save young lives, sending the legislation to the governor where they could soon be signed into law.
Barrett, a retired surgeon and chair of the House Committee on Public Health, said his legislation would help young Hoosiers by streamlining the process for adding to the state's newborn screening list and boosting efforts to screen for lead in children.
"Early detection can save lives and increase quality of life," Barrett said. "This legislation could help families throughout the state, and I look forward to these bills becoming law and having a positive impact on saving young Hoosiers."
In Indiana, every newborn is screened for over 50 health disorders prior to leaving the hospital or within five days of a home birth. Barrett's legislation will streamline the process for adding a new screening to the list, which currently requires legislative action and causes unnecessary delays. By allowing experts in prenatal care to add screenings to the list, response times will be quicker and families could better benefit from the latest medical advancements.
To ensure more Hoosier children are tested for lead exposure, which can go undetected for long periods of time but has detrimental impacts on the brain and nervous system, House Enrolled Act 1313 would establish a five-year lead screening program in the state. Currently, all Medicaid-eligible children up to age 6 are required to be tested for lead poisoning. Barrett said his bill would expand testing via a statewide optional program for all Hoosier children. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, lead in the environment is particularly threatening to children because their bodies can absorb it more quickly and efficiently than adults. Lead accumulates in the body over time and ongoing exposure can become toxic, but lead poisoning is also preventable and sources can be identified.
"Exposure to lead is a growing issue for children in Indiana, and it's critical to act now in order to more effectively prevent and treat it," Barrett said. "With the General Assembly's approval of these two bills, we're one step closer to ensuring our most vulnerable have better, healthier outcomes."
To follow legislation considered for new laws by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2022-bill-watch.
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State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) represents House District 56,
which includes portions of Wayne County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
CAPTION: State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) testifies before the Indiana House of Representatives Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, in the House Chamber at the Indiana Statehouse. Barrett's legislation to save young lives by expanding medical screenings for newborns and lead exposure are headed to the governor where they could soon be law.
