State senator to strengthen law on lead testing
Set to check risk of exposure to kids
“This session, a stronger effort must be made to make lead testing available for all children. By the time a child shows signs of exposure to lead, serious damage may have already occurred.” Pa. Sen. Lisa Baker R-Luzerne
HARRISBURG — A new law intended to get more kids tested for lead exposure hasn’t even taken effect yet and Sen. Lisa Baker, RLuzerne, the sponsor of the legislation, has already announced plans to strengthen the measure.
Act 150, signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on Nov. 3, requires that doctors should order blood tests for pregnant moms and young children if they determine that the women or children are at risk of lead exposure. In 2019, a state task force on lead exposure — created in response to revelations about lead in drinking water in Flint, Mich. — had recommended that the state implement universal blood testing for young children.
“This session, a stronger effort must be made to make lead testing available for all children. By the time a child shows signs of exposure to lead, serious damage may have already occurred,” Ms. Baker said in a co-sponsor memo.
Senate Bill 522, which became Act 150, originally would have required that all young children between the ages of 9 and 12 months and all pregnant moms be given blood tests to detect lead exposure. In June, the Senate amended the bill to weaken the requirement and added language that doctors must “make reasonable efforts” to test children by the age of 2. The vote to amend the legislation passed on a party-line 33-16 vote, with all Democrats opposed.
Despite that change, when the legislation moved to the House it was weakened again, removing the requirement language and replacing it with language indicating that doctors should consider whether a child or pregnant mom has been exposed to lead and then determine whether the patient should be tested for lead exposure.
Ms. Baker’s co-sponsorship memo indicates that she plans to introduce legislation reinstating the requirement that children under 2 get tested for lead exposure.
Just under 32% of children under 2 in Pennsylvania were tested for lead exposure in 2020, according to Department of Health data. The DOH report notes that while Pennsylvania does not have universal lead exposure screening, the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program (administered by the Department of Human Services) requires providers to test children on Medical Assistance twice by age 24 months (between 9 and 11 months and at 24 months).
Just over 3,100 children tested were found to have elevated lead levels in their blood in 2020, according to DOH.
“Healthcare professionals believe that all children may be at risk—based on exposure in their family homes, in daycare and educational facilities, or on playgrounds, among other areas,” Ms. Baker said. “Research demonstrates that universal lead testing is a practical and effective protective measure to reduce instances of lead poisoning. Accordingly, the legislation seeks to ensure that all children receive at least one test by age two, and all children and pregnant women with known, demonstrated risk factors as identified by health care professionals.”
Act 150 takes effect in January.