Health - Newborn Screening Program - Gaucher Disease

HB 1055 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to add Gaucher disease to the state’s mandatory newborn screening program, effective October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects all newborns in Maryland by expanding the list of conditions screened during routine newborn testing, unless parents or guardians object. The key mechanism is amending Maryland’s Health Code (Section 13-111) to explicitly mandate screening for Gaucher disease, which is currently not included in the standard panel. The bill does not alter existing screening protocols or costs but ensures Gaucher disease is screened for alongside other core conditions listed in federal recommendations.