Evaluating the effectiveness of newborn and child screening and followup programs

The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to provide for the conduct of demonstration programs to evaluate the effectiveness, including with respect to timeliness, of screening, followup, counseling or health care services in reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by heritable disorders in newborns and children. A demonstration program conducted under a grant under this section shall be designed to evaluate and assess, within the jurisdiction of the entity receiving such grant— methods or best practices by which the eligible entities described in section 300b–8 of this title can achieve in a timely manner— To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a) an entity shall be a State or political subdivision of a State, or a consortium of two or more States or political subdivisions of States.