The Minnesota Republican Party has added a plank to their party platform that would require parents to "opt in" to having newborn bloodspot screening for their newborn babies. This would be a major change from the current situation in Minnesota. Currently, parents can "opt out" of the program, but this very rarely happens. If the program is changed so that parents have to "opt in" to have their child screened, it is unclear what this would mean for the rates of participation. The concern is that many more kids would not be screened and that, sooner or later, a child with a treatable condition would be missed, resulting in permanent disability or death to the child. Also, if "opt in" becomes the standard, there will be a whole new informed consent process that will have to planned, developed and put into practice. Who would do this and what it would cost is unclear at this point. We will be watching this with great interest. Fee free to comment if you have any information or if you have perspectives on this.
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