Georgia

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.

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.

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.