HM 12 — CEREBRAL PALSY DETECTION TASK FORCE

HOUSE MEMORIAL 12 54TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSIO, 2019 INTRODUCED BY Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Natalie Figueroa 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY DETECTION OF HIGH RISK FOR AND DIAGNOSIS OF CEREBRAL PALSY IN CHILDREN;

REQUESTING THE EARLY CEREBRAL PALSY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION TASK FORCE TO CONTINUE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 ITS WORK IN IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES IN CEREBRAL PALSY RISK IDENTIFICATION, DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTIONS, AND IN CREATING A PLAN OF CARE THAT MEETS e t 17 INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE STANDARDS IN, AND IDENTIFIES HEALTH w l n d 18 COVERAGE GUIDELINES FOR, ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY = = 19 a l CEREBRAL PALSY CARE.

i a e r 20 a t m m 21 WHEREAS, cerebral palsy is the most common physical d r e 22 disability in childhood, with a prevalence of two and one-tenthone- ctenth e s k 23 cases per thousand in high-income countries and about sixty-sixty-five e a n b 24 five per year in New Mexico;

and u [ WHEREAS, cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders .212369.1 of the development of movement and posture, causing limitations in function and meaningful participation in life that are attributed to nonprogressive brain damage that occurs in the developing fetal or infant brain;

and HM 12 Page 1 WHEREAS, previously, the first twenty-four months of age were regarded as the latent or silent period during which cerebral palsy could not be identified accurately in children;

and WHEREAS, experts now consider the concept of the silent period outdated, because cerebral palsy or high risk of cerebral palsy can be accurately predicted with ninety percent to ninety-five percent certainty in children before the age of e e 17 six months, using valid neuromotor tests that assess abnormal e e n d 18 quality of movement, reduced frequency of movement or whether = = l ] 19 the child's motor skills are below what is expected for the a l r i 20 child's age;

and t e a t WHEREAS, a highly experienced clinical team should conduct m m 21 e d r e 22 and interpret the standardized assessments and communicate the c e r c 23 news compassionately to families;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, eighty-six percent of parents of children with u [ cerebral palsy suspect it before the clinical diagnosis is .212369.1 - 2 - made;

and HM 12 Page 2 WHEREAS, when a child is perceived to be at risk of cerebral palsy, the child should be referred for cerebral- palsy-specific therapy and early intervention as well as regular medical, neurological and developmental monitoring from the child's pediatrician or neurologist;

and WHEREAS, early detection allows improved access to therapy and early intervention and efficient use of resources and, therefore, the clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy or high e e 17 risk of cerebral palsy should always be followed by a referral e e n d 18 of a child for cerebral-palsy-specific therapy and early = = l ] 19 intervention and the provision of information and support to a l r i 20 the child's parents or caregivers;

and t e a t WHEREAS, children with cerebral palsy require an early m m 21 e d r e 22 diagnosis because motor and cognitive gains are greater from c e r c 23 early diagnostic-specific therapy and intervention;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, the motor tracts in the brain are primarily u [ formed in the first year of life, so diagnosing the risk for .212369.1 - 3 - cerebral palsy in children after twelve months misses the critical period of brain development when targeted therapy and early intervention could have the most impact;

and WHEREAS, worldwide, the early detection of high risk for cerebral palsy and use of targeted, timely, research-based, effective therapy and early interventions are becoming the standard of care to optimize neuroplasticity in young children, prevent complications and enhance parent and caregiverHM well-12 being;Page 3 caregiver well-being;

e e 17 representatives of the human services department;

parents of e e n d 18 children with cerebral palsy;

= = l ] 19 and others, has been meeting monthly to gather research and a l r i 20 prepare to implement the international clinical practice t e a t guidelines in New Mexico;

and m m 21 e d r e 22 WHEREAS, the early cerebral palsy detection and c e r c 23 intervention task force intends to continue meeting to devise a e a n b 24 plan to assess, identify and provide evidence-based therapy and u [ early intervention to children at risk for cerebral palsy that .212369.1 - 4 - meets international clinical practice guidelines for cerebral palsy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF HM 12 Page 4 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the importance of early detection of high risk for cerebral palsy in children be recognized;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early cerebral palsy detection and intervention task force be requested to continue its work during fiscal year 2020 and invite the current task force members to recruit greater statewide representation of physicians, including representatives from the subspecialties e e 17 of pediatrics, neonatology and pediatric neurology;

e e n d 18 representatives from the fields of nursing, physical therapy, = = l ] 19 occupational therapy, speech language pathology and social a l r i 20 work;

t e a t representatives from the department of health and the human m m 21 e d r e 22 services department;

c e r c 23 individuals with cerebral palsy;

and self-advocates;self- advocates;

and e a n b 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early cerebral palsy u [ detection and intervention task force invite as new members .212369.1 - 5 - representatives from the interagency benefits advisory committee and private health insurance plans to identify health coverage guidelines that will provide appropriate and timely access to risk identification, diagnosis and intervention services relating to cerebral palsy;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early cerebral palsy detection and intervention task force be requested to devise HM 12 Page 5 a plan for implementation of the international clinical practice guidelines for cerebral palsy for New Mexico;

-HM 612 -Page e6 e9 1725 e e n d 18 = = l ] 19 a l r i 20 t e a t m m 21 e d r e 22 c e r c 23 e a n b 24 u [ .212369.1