|
Call your State Representative ASAP and ask them to vote against HB 227 as written.
If you do not know who your Representative is or do not have your Representative’s contact information, you can find it here: Home - Delaware General Assembly (under “Who is My Legislator?”)
HB 227 would require various amendments to the lead poisoning code including:
- Requiring physicians to take a training program every two years relating to the provisions of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act
- Enhanced electronic reporting requirements
- Requiring the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) to share data with school nurses
The Medical Society of Delaware has submitted a letter to the Delaware House of Representatives opposing this legislation as written. Delaware physicians are needed to voice opposition to the mandatory education.
Talking Points:
- The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation cannot determine which physicians this training would truly be applicable to every two years. Lead testing data is required at a child’s 12 and 24 month visit, or prior to school entry if not completed at these intervals.
- Pediatricians represent a small portion of Delaware's physicians.
- Physicians should be empowered to determine what continuing medical education best enables them to practice at the top of their specialty.
- There are various challenges with lead testing, including social determinants of health and access to testing, that are beyond the scope of a physician's control. The physician orders the test, however, opportunities exist in parental follow-through.
- Medicaid requires Blood Lead Level (BLL) testing, but there are opportunities to increase rates.
-
Data suggests that a multi-prong approach to increasing rates leads to improvements (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30507767/) including:
- Improvements in point of care testing
- Reimbursement enhancements
- Community education
- Parent reminders
Read the synopsis of HB 227.
Contact Lincoln Willis at lincoln.willis@thewillisgroupllc.com or 302-632-9898 with any questions.
Contact your Representative to vote NO for HB 227 as written.
| 
