This legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a comprehensive framework for the screening of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in newborns. It authorizes hospitals and healthcare entities to administer CMV tests to infants 21 days old or less, aiming to identify the infection early. States are empowered to prescribe standards and procedures for testing, including recording results, tracking, follow-up, and disseminating information to parents, with federal oversight from an advisory committee if states do not act within two years. All state-prescribed standards are subject to review and approval by this Advisory Committee. To support these efforts, the bill authorizes federal grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for states to fund testing programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also award grants for technical assistance, data collection, and public education campaigns on CMV. Finally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is directed to expand research into new screening techniques, diagnostics, prevention, and treatments, including vaccine development.
This legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a comprehensive framework for the screening of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in newborns. It authorizes hospitals and healthcare entities to administer CMV tests to infants 21 days old or less, aiming to identify the infection early. States are empowered to prescribe standards and procedures for testing, including recording results, tracking, follow-up, and disseminating information to parents, with federal oversight from an advisory committee if states do not act within two years. All state-prescribed standards are subject to review and approval by this Advisory Committee. To support these efforts, the bill authorizes federal grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for states to fund testing programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also award grants for technical assistance, data collection, and public education campaigns on CMV. Finally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is directed to expand research into new screening techniques, diagnostics, prevention, and treatments, including vaccine development.