State Projects

Expanding Access: State Projects

Inspired by the success of Project Baby Bear, other states have followed with their own programs to publicly fund rapid Whole Genome Sequencing for infants.

Michigan's Project Baby Deer

In 2021, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association launched Project Baby Deer, a statewide initiative offering rapid Whole Genome Sequencing to critically ill babies and children. The goal was to make Michigan the first state in the national to offer rWGS to all babies up to 1 year of age that meet clinical criteria, regardless of location or type of insurance.

One year after Project Baby Deer launched, Michigan became the first state to make rapid Whole Genome Sequencing™ a covered benefit for eligible infants enrolled in Medicaid.

Michigan Medicaid will reimburse hospitals for the cost of rWGS testing separate from inpatient DRG payments.

Results

Michigan Medicaid rWGS® Resource Kit

To learn more about how to provide this test to your patients, download our resource kit.
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If it was not for Project Baby Deer genome testing, Evelyn may not be here today.

Project Baby Deer in the News

Florida's Project Baby Manatee

A pilot initiative led by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and funded by a Florida State Appropriation, Project Baby Manatee assessed the impact of providing rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill infants and children with unknown illnesses, receiving care in a neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit.

Through Project Baby Manatee, 60 babies from low-income families gained access to rWGS. The pilot program resulted in estimated savings of more than  $3.76 million, yielding an estimated $2.88 million return on investment, by enabling care teams to quickly address each child’s specific care needs, minimizing expenditures on additional testing and unproductive treatments.

Project Baby Manatee in the News

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