Board declines petition to alter Group A water rules on fluoride; refers MLD newborn‑screening petition to technical advisory committee
Loading...
Summary
The Board declined a petition to amend WAC 246‑290 on Group A public water systems (staff recommended denial) and declined an immediate MLD addition to the newborn screening panel while directing staff to convene a technical advisory committee to evaluate MLD; both motions passed unanimously.
The Washington State Board of Health declined a petition March 12 that sought to amend WAC 246-290 (Group A public water systems) to strengthen safety standards and transparency for added substances, including fluoride, and the Board also declined immediate rulemaking to add metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) to the newborn screening panel while directing staff to convene a technical advisory committee (TAC) for an in-depth evaluation.
On the Group A water petition, staff recommended denying the request because the Board has historically relied on national reviews under the Safe Drinking Water Act and EPA processes when evaluating substances added to drinking water. Board members discussed whether such evaluations are primarily state or federal responsibilities; Chair Patty Hayes suggested petitioners seeking a change in statutory authority pursue the Legislature. The motion to decline the petition and notify the petitioner (Member Browning/Vice Chair Oshiro) passed unanimously.
On the newborn screening petition, staff and Department presenters noted that MLD was added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in December 2025 and that the MLD Foundation resubmitted an updated petition. Presenters explained that MLD is an autosomal recessive condition and that early treatment is associated with dramatically better outcomes. Department staff said gene therapy treatment costs are approximately $4.25 million and presented outcomes data: without treatment, survival at six years is reported as 0%; with early treatment, reported survival was 100% in available datasets. Board members supported a TAC review to examine clinical evidence, costs, insurance coverage and access; the Board unanimously directed staff to work with the Department to convene a TAC and report back with recommendations.
Both motions passed unanimously; staff were instructed to notify petitioners and to begin TAC planning for the MLD review under the Board’s established newborn screening criteria.