Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) now requires mandatory reporting of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases.

According to a recent MDHHS press release, the state health department has announced the adoption of a new administrative rule requiring ALS reporting. The press release states that ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no current cure for ALS.

MDHHS states that the mandate went into effect May 15 and makes Michigan the fifth state in the nation to implement mandatory ALS reporting. The press release explained that the mandate will improve ALS monitoring.

“There are between 4,000 and 6,000 cases of ALS diagnosed across the country annually,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, said in the press release. “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.”

Further, Dr. Stephen Goutman, Michigan Medicine Pranger ALS Clinic director, stated in the press release that establishing ALS as a reportable disease is a “step toward reducing the burden of ALS in the state of Michignan.”

Additionally, Goutman explained that the mandate will ensure that rates are kept up to date.

“Without a registry, we do not know the rates of ALS in the state or whether these rates are changing,” Goutman said in the press release. “Given the projected increase in ALS by 2030, it is essential that we collect this information now to inform changing disease trends, identify disease clusters and optimize the availability of care for all persons living with ALS.”

According to MDHHS, under the mandate Michigan health care professionals and health care facilities that diagnose and treat individuals with ALS will be required to report cases to MDHHS. This reporting will support MDHHS’ efforts to build a comprehensive registry of chronic diseases.

ALS mandatory reporting will allow public health officials to track the number of ALS cases to illustrate the distribution of the disease across Michigan, according to the press release. MDHHS states that statewide ALS reporting will guide future research and public health actions.

“We applaud the State of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for approving the creation of an ALS registry for the state,” Dr. Eva L. Feldman, Michigan Medicine ALS Center of Excellence director, said in the press release. “We will now be the fifth state in the United States to have such a registry, pivotal in our fight against ALS. Michigan has one of the highest rates of ALS in the country, and this registry will help in our quest to solve why.”

To view the ALS reporting rule, individuals can visit ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us.