Georgia

The State of Georgia received $500,000 through cooperative agreement EH21-2102 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in FY 2022. The funds address childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance programmatic activities being conducted from September 30, 2022 to September 29, 2023.

The strategies focus on

  • Ensuring blood lead testing and reporting
  • Enhancing blood lead surveillance
  • Improving linkages to recommended services

To learn more about these efforts in Georgia, contact the program below.

Georgia Department of Public Health
Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
2 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-657-2700

Success Story 2023

Pathway Georgia’s New Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Law

Challenge

In 2021, CDC updated its blood lead reference value (BLRV) to 3.5 µg/dL. At that time, the Georgia Department of Public Health intervened when blood lead levels (BLLs) were at 15 µg/dL, missing a population of children with BLLs below this level. Georgia state regulations prevented pursuit of enforcement action against landlords until the BLL of exposed children reached 15 µg/dL. Georgia parameters and law for initiating public health action were not in line with CDC recommendations.

Intervention

A Georgia House of Representatives study committee was created in the summer of 2021 to investigate the possibility of lowering the BLL definition to 3.5 µg/dL in Georgia. The committee met several times throughout Fall 2021 and listened to the perspectives of individuals affected by lead poisoning. The Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) provided essential information, including BLL data and current policies and procedures for case management of children with higher BLLs. Based on the information presented, the committee created a list of recommendations to change current CLPPP policies. These recommendations were proposed law in House Bill 1355 (HB 1355), which would align Georgia with the current CDC guidelines for recommending public health actions of BLLs starting at 3.5 µg/dL.

Impact

The bill was passed by both the Georgia House and Senate in April 2022 and included funds to assist the Department of Health in expanding the program. The law went into effect on July 1, 2022. Lowering Georgia’s BLL for initiating public health action will also require more home intervention services and case management. With passage of this law and added funding, the Department of Health will hire 18 additional lead inspectors statewide to investigate cases of lead exposure, educate families on ways to reduce exposure, and work with property owners to eliminate and reduce sources of lead. In addition, the CLPPP can now provide services for a population of children who were previously outside of the legal parameters for services.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by 1 NUE2EH001465-01-00 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Success Story 2021

Portable Analyzer Blood Lead Level Reporting in Georgia

Challenge

Results of all blood lead tests are reportable in Georgia. However, the Georgia Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (GHHLPPP) does not have complete electronic reporting, and there are also issues with timely reporting. Close to 85% of the data that GHHLPPP receives are reported through GHHLPPP’s State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SENDSS); however, a small majority of lab reports are received via mail or fax. Mailed and faxed reports are usually test results from portable lead analyzers sent directly from a clinic or physician’s office.

Intervention

GHHLPPP developed a fact sheet for pediatric providers on properly reporting portable analyzer results electronically within required time limits. GHHLPP worked with the Georgia Chapter of the America Academy of Pediatrics (GAAP) to fax and mail this information to all pediatric and family practice offices within the state in November 2014.

Additionally, GHHLPPP called each clinic that persistently faxed results and assisted them in registering for SENDSS accounts. Any faxed test results are immediately sent back to the reporting clinic with instructions on how to obtain a SENDSS account and report electronically.

GHHLPPP compared reported test results with a list of LeadCare II portable analyzer users in Georgia to ensure that all clinics and physician offices using these devices are reporting blood screening results.

Impact

After distributing the fact sheet, the number of clinics uploading blood lead test results in SENDSS increased from 35 in 2014 to 64 in 2017.

As a result of outreach to clinicians, Georgia’s blood lead screening rate has increased in all measures. For example, Georgia’s Medicaid screening rate increased from 65% in February 2015 to 71% in January 2016.

GHHLPPP’s actions increased electronic reporting by 10%. Currently, 98% of reports are sent electronically.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE1EH001258 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.