After years of medical specialty societies and patients advocating for universal screening of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in newborns, pulse oximetry has finally become routine in the majority of states. "In 2011, at the urging of the American College of Cardiology and others, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended adding pulse oximetry to routine newborn screenings," noted ACC President Patrick T. O'Gara, MD, FACC, in a Washington Post letter to the editor. "So far, 35 states require this simple, non-invasive test. However, until all newborns are given this test and those with heart defects are given every chance to live, our work is far from done." CCHD legislation is one of the ACC's state advocacy priorities and the College is continually working with Chapters, partners and the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology section to ensure the voice of CCHD patients and caregivers is heard on the state level as well as Capitol Hill.

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