States Florida

Program Overview:

Florida screens all newborns for various conditions soon after birth. While most babies arrive into the world healthy, there are a few newborns who have a rare health problem. Before leaving the hospital, a few drops of blood are taken from the baby’s heel. The hospital will send the blood sample to the Florida Newborn Screening Laboratory in Jacksonville, Florida. All results are sent back to the hospital or birthing center. The baby’s doctor will be given the results by the hospital or the results can be obtained from the Florida Newborn Screening Results (www.fnsr.net) website. If the screening process can find problems early, qualified health care professionals in Florida may prevent serious medical problems like intellectual disability or death from happening to the newborn.

Since early detection and treatment are so important with these conditions, it is important that families tell the hospital the correct name and phone number for the baby’s doctor so the family can be reached if screening results are out-of-range. If the doctor contacts the family, it does not mean the newborn has a serious condition, but it is important to follow the instructions immediately in order to determine if treatment will be necessary. Families are encouraged to ask about the results when seeing their newborn’s doctor for the first appointment.

How is Newborn Screening Paid for in ­­Florida?

Newborn Screening services in Florida are jointly funded through a $15.00 fee paid by birthing facilities for each live birth and the billing of the newborn screening tests performed by the Florida Newborn Screening Laboratory. Medicaid and private insurance companies are billed for the newborn screening tests. The Florida Newborn Screening Program does not bill families without insurance coverage.