Matt Blunt Expands Preventive Care for Children; Crickets Chirp

State to expand screening of newborns:

That's why the Kochers were on hand on yesterday to hear Gov. Matt Blunt explain that Missouri will begin screening newborns for about 20 additional metabolic and genetic disorders on July 1.

"I am so happy," said Linda Kocher, 43, of Olivette. "It will save the heartache of what happened to us."

Currently in Missouri, a few drops of blood are taken from a prick to an infant’s heel a few days after the child is born. Newborns are tested for five disorders, including sickle cell anemia a disease that can cause pain, organ damage and stroke- and congenital hypothyroidism, a thyroid hormone deficiency that can retard growth and brain development.

Beginning July 1, those same few drops of blood will be screened to be sure the baby doesn’t have any of about 20 additional disorders, or to offer treatment options if the child does.

The names of several of the disorders, like Audrey's medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, aren't easy to pronounce. But early treatment can make a significant difference to children who have many of the conditions.

Blunt said health insurance companies or Medicaid will pick up the costs of the screenings, which are $50 a child. The Republican governor said a $550,000 federal grant helped to fund costs related to the improved screenings.

So Governor Blunt shifts funding to preventive care and early screening, and the caterwauling of his opponents never pauses.