ASH Statement on Introduction of Health Home Legislation for People Living with Sickle Cell Disease
Reps. Burgess and Davis introduce bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing the quality of care for individuals living with SCD through Medicaid
(WASHINGTON, February 29, 2024) – Congressional sickle cell disease (SCD) champions, Reps. Michael C. Burgess, MD, (R-TX) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), introduced HR. 7432, which aims to address the critical need for high-quality comprehensive care for individuals living with the disease under Medicaid.
HR. 7432 would allow state Medicaid programs to provide comprehensive, coordinated care through a health home model. Health home models coordinate clinical care, behavioral health, and ancillary services for people with Medicaid with chronic conditions. The health home model aims to alleviate the many challenges and disparities people with SCD face.
SCD is the most common inherited red blood cell disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 100,000 people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SCD affects one out of every 365 Black or African American births and one out of every 16,300 Hispanic American births.
ASH President Mohandas Narla, DSc, of New York Blood Center Enterprises, issued the following statement:
“This bill takes an important step toward providing comprehensive care for individuals living with SCD. For too long, people with SCD have faced challenges and disparities in access to timely, equitable, and high-quality care.
We look forward to working with Reps. Burgess and Davis to ensure that this model includes coverage for dental, vision, and non-emergency transportation services in addition to other comprehensive care services.
A lack of access to quality, comprehensive, and coordinated care remains an urgent issue for individuals living with SCD, and we commend members of Congress for their unwavering commitment to legislation that addresses this problem.”
Resources
- ASH Sickle Cell Disease Initiative
- ASH Comments for the Cell & Gene Therapy Access Model for SCD
- SCD Resources for Clinicians
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. Since 1958, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.
The Blood journals (https://ashpublications.org/journals) are the premier source for basic, translational, and clinical hematological research. The Blood journals publish more peer-reviewed hematology research than any other academic journals worldwide.
Contact:
Melissa McGue, American Society of Hematology
mmcgue@hematology.org, (202) 552-4927