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setting with health care providers with expertise in managing these patients. The 2007 consen- sus guidelines and the update published as Part 1 and Part 2 in 2018 established the need for a multidisciplinary approach to SMA care. Such comprehensive care for patients with SMA may best be achieved at a tertiary care center. 2,6 Ongoing research has shown that beginning ther- apy as early as possible in children with SMA is critical. Studies indicate therapy is most effective when it can begin in the first few months of life before significant motor neuron loss occurs as well as in pre-symptomatic infants. This research reinforces the need for newborn screening, which would eliminate long and costly diagnos- tic delays and allow pre-symptomatic therapy. The CureSMA advocacy group lobbied the U.S. Congress to include SMA in the Recommended Uniformed Screening Panel for newborn screen- ing. Several U.S. states initiated pilot programs in 2018, and the testing has been shown to be highly specific and sensitive. It is gratifying that in Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchinson has signed a bill (HB 1074) into law that requires testing for SMA be added to the state’s newborn screening panel. This will allow for genetic diagnosis soon For many clinics, group membership in the Arkansas Medical Society eliminates the hassle of individual renewal and reimbursement for physicians and accounts payable staff and provides EVERY physician with the invaluable resources of the largest and strongest Arkansas health care advocate. after birth, potentially even before onset of any symptoms. 8,9,10 In conclusion, patients with SMA, a previously incurable and debilitating disease, now have a chance to greatly modify the condition and there- by extend the length and improve the quality of their lives. References 1. Ogino S, Winson RB. Genetic testing and risk assessment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Hum Genet. 2002 Dec;111(6):477-500. 2. Pechmann A, Kirschner J. Diagnosis and New Treatment Avenues in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Neuropediatrics. 2017 Aug; 48(4): 273-281. 3. Veerapandiyan A, Ciafaloni E. Spinal muscu- lar atrophy. MedLink Neurology. http://www. medlink.com/article/spinal_muscular_atrophy. 4. Reed UC, Zanoteli E. Therapeutic advances in 5q-linked spinal muscular atrophy. Arq Neurop- siquiatr. 2018 Apr;76(4):265-272. 5. Mesfin A, Sponseller PD, Leet AI. Spinal mus- cular atrophy: manifestations and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2012 Jun;20(6):393-401. 6. Michelson D, Ciafaloni E, Ashwal S et al. Ev- idence in focus: Nusinersen use in spinal mus- cular atrophy: Report of the Guideline Devel- opment, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neu- rology. Neurology 2018 Nov 13; 91(20):923-933. 7. Mendell JR, Al-Zaidy S, Shell R et al. Sin- gle-Dose Gene-Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2; 377(18): 1713-1722. 8. Lin CW, Kalb SJ, Yeh WS. Delay in Diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Systematic Liter- ature Review. Pediatr Neurol. 2015 Oct; 53(4): 293-300. 9. Phan HC, Taylor JL, Hannon H, Howell R. Newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy: Anticipating an imminent need. Semin Perinatol. 2015 Apr; 39(3): 217-29. 10. Glascock J, Sampson J, Haidet-Phillips A et al. Treatment Algorithm for Infants Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy through Newborn Screening. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2018; 5(2): 145- 158. Thank you TO OUR 2020 AMS GROUP MEMBERS We invite groups of 5 or more physicians to take advantage of the AMS Group Memberaship Program. Our goal with this program is to be able to provide the practice management resources your practice needs and the advocacy that the physician needs in one group benefit. 166 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Arkansas Asthma and Allergy Doctors’ Anatomic Pathology St. Mary’s- Millard Henry Arkansas Cardiology Services, PA Clinic Arkansas Heart Hospital GastroArkansas Monticello Medical Clinic Arkansas Methodist Medical CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Mercy Obstetrics and Center Arkansas Gynecology All for Kids Pedicatric Care Highlands Oncology Group NEA Baptist Clinic Arkansas Otolaryngology Hot Springs Radiology Northwest Arkansas Center Services Pathology Arkansas Pediatric Clinic Jacksonville Medical Care OrthoArkansas Autumn Road Family Practice Johnson Dermatology Ozark Orthopaedics Arkansas Urology Little Rock Family Practice Premier Dermatology Bowen Hefley Rhodes Stewart Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Radiology Associates PA Orthopedics Magnolia Regional Medical The Surgical Clinic of Central CARTI Center Arkansas Conway OBGYN Clinic, PA MANA Physicians Southern Regional Anesthesia Community Physician’s Group UAMS Interested in your group joining this list? Contact Laura Haywood at [email protected] or 501-224-8967 for all the details. www.ArkMed.org