Show All Answers

1. Do I need to request screening for my baby?

No. All Kansas-born newborns receive newborn screening unless a parent refuses.

2. How much does blood spot screening cost?

Blood spot screening is free of charge. Kansas state statue requires that every baby born in Kansas be screened for all metabolic and genetic conditions on the newborn blood spot screening panel at no cost to families. 

3. How are hearing screening costs covered?

Screening is typically included with birth and nursery charges and is covered by health insurance. If you are not planning to deliver in a hospital, talk with your midwife about hearing screening costs.

4. I am not delivering in the hospital. Can my baby still be screened?

Yes. Midwives have a process for sending blood spot collection samples to the Newborn Screening Program for testing, and many midwives have the ability to screen for critical congenital heart disease. If you are planning an out-of-hospital birth, ask your midwife what newborn screening options they offer.

5. Does newborn screening vary by state?

All states in the United States have newborn screening programs. However, each state determines which conditions are included in their newborn screening panel. Kansas currently screens for 34 disorders.

6. I have no family history. Should my baby still be screened

Yes. Families with no family history and/or parents who have already had healthy children can still have a child affected by one of the conditions of the newborn screening panel. Many babies affected by one of these conditions have no family history.

7. What if my baby looks healthy?

Many of the conditions Kansas screen for are not visible through a regular examination. With many of these conditions, babies may look normal and appear healthy at birth and even into infancy. Newborn screening identifies infants at risk for one of the conditions on the newborn screening panel, providing the opportunity for early intervention before the condition progresses. Early intervention leads to better outcomes than waiting until babies show that they have one of the screened conditions.

8. What causes these conditions?

Conditions on the newborn screening panel can be the result of several factors. Some conditions are genetic, while some are not. If hearing loss or another condition is detected in your baby's screening, your baby may be referred to a genetic counselor for more testing to determine if the cause is related to genetics. 

9. How and when will I get my baby's results?

Hearing and pulse oximetry screening results are available as soon as the screening is complete. Parents are encouraged to ask their birth provider or person performing the screen about their baby's result at the time of screening. The blood spot screening process takes a few days, up to a week. Once complete, all results are mailed to the hospital or birth provider who collected the screen. If your baby has an abnormal (out-of-range or borderline) result, our staff will contact your baby's doctor or clinic as soon as possible. Your baby's doctor should then contact you to discuss next steps. For many conditions, the Blood Spot program will provide information directly to families when there is an out-of-range or abnormal result.

10. What is Special Health Care Needs?

The Kansas Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) program promotes the functional skills of persons, who have or are at risk for a disability or chronic disease. The program is responsible for the planning, development, and promotion of the parameters and quality of specialty health care in Kansas in accordance with state and federal funding and direction.

The SHCN program provides specialized medical services to infants, children, and youth up to age 21 who have eligible medical conditions.