S.5604 - The Sickle Cell Treatment Act

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Establishes the "Sickle Cell Treatment Act" which designates sickle cell centers for excellence and outpatient treatment centers.

Sickle Cell patients experience a multitude of symptoms that can range from mild to severe. There is little to no awareness of possible ways to manage these symptoms, which is why centers for excellence (COE), and outpatient treatment centers are essential.

The Centers of Excellence would serve as a hub for adults and children alike to have access to professionals that can understand, monitor, and provide care in the most effective way possible. The COEs would further serve as leaders to other institutions in the treatment of SCD and would establish the best practices that could then be used in other healthcare facilities around the state.

Outpatient hospitals would help reduce the need of sickle cell patients to check into the emergency room for pain, which is the traditional response of people who are suffering an SCD pain crisis. Patients would have access to readily available services that are designated to help specifically with SCD pain management and symptoms because outpatient services would be available in areas where there is sufficient need for the service. The reduced burden on emergency rooms, especially in times of health crisis, can help patients and doctors alike.

Pain is a major symptom of Sickle Cell disease (SCD) and one of the principal reasons that people with SCD go to the emergency room..

Pain experienced by sickle cell patients manifests itself as abrupt and very debilitating pain in any part of the body. Individuals diagnosed with sickle cell can begin having pain crises as early as 6 months of age.

This legislation will allow certain sickle cell patients to easily gain access to opioid therapy. Currently, sickle cell patients are restricted in being treated with opioids. However, due to the debilitating pain sickle cell disease patients encounter during crisis, opioid therapy serves to reduce the pain that patients experience.

Sponsored by: Sen. James Sanders Jr.

Co-sponsor: Sen. John E. Brooksm, Sen. Leroy Comrie, Sen. Michael Gianaris, Sen. Robert Jackson.

Support and Track the progress of this bill: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s5604

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