The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services adopted a new administrative rule requiring mandatory reporting of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It currently has no cure, and slowly impacts diagnosed individuals’ ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe.
Key Points:
-
- The rule went into effect on Thursday, May 15.
- Michigan is the fifth state to implement mandatory ALS case reporting.
- Under the rule, health care professionals and health care facilities that diagnose and treat individuals with ALS will be required to report cases to the department.
- The rule allows public health officials to track the number of ALS cases and where they occur, offering important insight into the incidence and distribution of the disease across Michigan.
“There are between 4,000 and 6,000 cases of ALS diagnosed across the country annually,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Mandatory reporting will help provide a better picture of who gets ALS and identify risk factors for the disease. This information will assist with research and could help offer a better future for those with ALS.”
To read the full rule, please click here.
