JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would require newborn screenings for congenital heart disease.
The bill known as "Chloe's Law" would mandate the screening before newborns are discharged from the hospital.
Sponsoring Republican Sen. Dan Brown, of Rolla, says many hospitals already do the screenings but his bill would make sure they are done everywhere.
The law's namesake, 4-year-old Chloe Manz, of Lee's Summit, was born in 2008 with a rare congenital heart defect. She did not have a newborn screening for the disease, and it was not diagnosed until nine months later.
The measure needs one more vote before moving to the House.
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The newborn screening bill is SB230
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov