House Bill 916 Goes to Senate

A step in the right direction! Earlier this week, the PA House passed House Bill 916. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jose Giral (D-Phila), mandates insurance-covered blood lead tests for pregnant people and children at both 12 and 24 months of age. It amends the 2022 Childhood Blood Lead Test Act, which merely recommends lead testing for these groups unless they are deemed high risk, and does not require insurance to help cover the costs.

The goal of early detection is to minimize exposure and prevent lead poisoning. According to Giral, “lead poisoning in children can lead to developmental delays, seizures, and nervous system damage. During pregnancy, lead poisoning raises the risk of miscarriage and can expose the developing baby to lead, leading to premature birth, underdeveloped organs, low birth weight, and future learning and developmental issues.”

Many people don’t show any signs or symptoms of lead exposure before lead poisoning, but no amount of exposure is safe for children, which is why early detection is so critical. This bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.