In this installment, ASH Committee on Practice Chair Dr. Chancellor Donald and ASH Committee on Government Affairs Chair Dr. Jennifer Holter Chakrabarty provide an overview of the latest sickle cell disease (SCD) policy updates and highlight ASH's work to date on the Hill, including a recently introduced SCD bill, and work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal partners. Learn more and get involved by visiting www.hematology.org/advocacy.
PLEASE NOTE: During their conversation, Drs. Donald and Holter Chakrabarty discuss the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act (H.R. 6216/S. 3389), bipartisan legislation introduced in December 2021 that seeks to create a demonstration program in up to 10 states to improve access to comprehensive, high-quality, outpatient care for individuals with SCD enrolled in Medicaid. Dr. Holter Chakrabarty mentions a number of specific states that may benefit if the legislation passes Congress and is signed into law. We would like to clarify that none of the states Dr. Holter Chakrabarty mentions are guaranteed participation in the demonstration program. However, under the guidelines set forth in the legislation, priority for participation will be given to states that participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sickle Cell Data Collection program (which the states mentioned by Dr. Holter Chakrabarty are all participants in), as well as states with a high prevalence of individuals living with SCD.