Lt. Governor Denn, Rep. Schooley, and Sen. Blevins announce legislation for developmental disabilities

Legislation designed to ensure that all infants and toddlers are properly screened

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2009

Wilmington- Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn, State Representative Terry Schooley, and State Senator Patricia Blevins unveiled legislation today designed to ensure that all infants and toddlers in Delaware are properly screened for developmental disabilities at appropriate ages.

The legislation would require that private insurers in Delaware cover comprehensive developmental screening for children at ages nine months, eighteen months, and thirty months. The cost to insurance policyholders of this legislation would be approximately three cents per policyholder per month.

"This legislation will help us to ensure that we find and successfully treat far more children with developmental disabilities," Denn said. "The result will be that these children will get far more effective treatment and face fewer challenges as they get older."

The legislation, which requires insurance policies to cover the cost of such screenings, was applauded by representatives of pediatricians and the Delaware Early Childhood Council.

"Fifteen to thirty percent of all children have developmental delays, thirty-percent of those are said to be missed," said Dr. Jay Ludwicki, President of the Delaware Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "This legislation will help identify the most at risk children, as well as incentivize primary care physicians to screen early."

Sophisticated screening of infants and toddlers, which Delaware already provides for infants and toddlers in its Medicaid program, has proven results in the early detection of developmental disabilities, which in turn results in dramatically improved results for the treatment of children with such disabilities. Yet by one statistical measure, Delaware performs formal screening of young children for disabilities at just over half the rate of the rest of the country.

"This bill will allow us to help guarantee that our young children receive the best possible treatment, at a cost to insurance policyholders of only three cents per member per month. It is the right thing to do for kids, and over the long term, it is the most cost-effective thing to do for our state," added Sen. Blevins.

"The opportunity for every infant and toddler in Delaware to have their growth and development assessed has been one of the primary goals of Delaware's plan for early childhood, Early Success. This legislation will help move Delaware closer to realizing its goal of having every child ready to be successful when they begin Kindergarten and first grade," said Ann Wick, chair of Delaware Early Childhood Council.

"This bill, combined with education of pediatricians and family doctors about the importance of comprehensive screening, will help us to ensure healthier outcomes and a better education for Delaware's children," said Rep. Schooley.