The Sickle Cell Disease Foundation Responds to Senate Bill 721: Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act

(Ontario, CA) – Mary Brown, President and CEO, the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation (SCDF), issued the following statement in response to S.721:The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act, introduced by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The legislation would allow State Medicaid programs to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to individuals living with sickle cell disease through a home health model.

“For decades, people living with sickle cell disease have relied on emergency department visits and long hospital stays – care that is not only costly but often inconsistent, and delivered by staff unfamiliar with this complex condition.

“That’s why we commend Senator Cory Booker for introducing legislation that puts patients first. S.721: The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act would give people living with sickle cell disease the wrap-around services they need and deserve, including a team of trusted doctors, nurses, social workers, mental health providers, and other specialists who work together and share information, so patients get their care in a coordinated way.

“At SCDF, we have seen first-hand that people with complex conditions, like sickle cell disease, thrive when medical care, mental health support, and everyday services work together. Families sleep easier, pain crises decrease, and people can plan for the future instead of the next emergency visit.

“Amid recent cuts to Medicaid and research funding that have already harmed the sickle cell community, this bill is more important than ever. It builds on the progress we’ve made in California through Networking California for Sickle Cell Care, and extends it nationwide, offering stability and hope at a time when patients are at risk of losing access to health care. This legislation is a critical step toward improving quality of life, ensuring sickle cell warriors are neglected no more.”

For more information or to connect with the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, please visit the SCDF website.