Newborn Screening: Critical Congenital Heart Disease—Newborn Screening Panel Nomination
Wisconsin health care providers can nominate a condition to add to the Wisconsin newborn screening panel. The panel is part of the Wisconsin Newborn Screening program.
The purpose of this page is to show providers the nomination process for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).
What is CCHD
CCHD is a disorder that affects about 10,000 babies born in the U.S. each year. For some babies, a prenatal ultrasound and a newborn exam will find CCHD. Other babies with CCHD will appear perfectly healthy during the newborn period.
In 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services recommended that all newborns be screened for CCHD using pulse oximetry. Screening is meant to prevent serious morbidity and mortality from missed or delayed diagnosis of CCHD.
Learn more about the CCHD Screening for Newborns in Wisconsin.
Nomination process for CCHD
The following timeline outlines the newborn screening panel nomination process:
- April 28, 2014—Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) received a nomination to add CCHD to the newborn screening panel:
- May 2, 2014—The Newborn Screening Umbrella Committee considered the nomination. They recommended adding CCHD to the Wisconsin newborn screening panel. They forwarded this suggestion to the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening.
- May 14, 2014—An addendum to the nomination was received.
- May 29, 2014—The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening considered the nomination. They forwarded a recommendation report to the DHS Secretary in support.
- July 3, 2014—DHS added, by emergency rule, screening for CCHD by pulse oximetry to the Wisconsin newborn screening panel.
- Oct. 1, 2015—The legislature added screening for CCHD by pulse oximetry to the Wisconsin newborn screening panel by permanent rule.
Questions? Contact DHSWICongenitalDisorders@dhs.wisconsin.gov.