WIC PROGRAM:  SCREEN CHILDREN FOR LEAD

Senate Bill 1198

Sponsor:  Sen. Martha G. Scott

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Families and Human Services

Complete to 5-15-06

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 1198 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 5-11-06

The bill would add a new section to the Social Welfare Act to require, beginning October 1, 2006, the departments of Health and Human Services and Community Health to test all children participating in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC Program) for lead poisoning.  Federal funds provided for administration of the WIC Program could not be used to implement or administer the bill's provisions.

MCL 400.111l

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 1198 (S-1) as passed by the Senate may have fiscal implications for the Department of Community Health (DCH).  Recent data from the Department indicate 227,000 WIC participants per month, with over half being children.  DCH indicates that approximately 85% of WIC recipients receive health care under the Medicaid program, which would cover the cost of lead screening for those children.  This bill may impose some costs on the state if the existing programs of payment cannot support all of the WIC eligible children.  WIC program funds cannot be used for this purpose; therefore state funding of up to $500,000 may be needed for initial screening and some follow-up testing for children testing positive on the initial screening.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.