Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Danny K. Davis (D-IL) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve Medicaid care for patients who have sickle cell disease (SCD).
For additional context, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees State Amendment Plans (SPAs), which are agreements between state governments and CMS on how the state administers its Medicaid programs.
What Rep. Dunn's Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act does is allow states to create an SPA that establishes what are known as Health Homes for sickle cell disease patients. Additional provisions include patients being able to receive coordinated care from a single "designated provider," which can be a physician, a team of professionals linked to a designated provider, or a community health team.
States that establish sickle cell disease Health Homes will receive federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) equal to 90% for eight fiscal quarters to provide medically necessary services to treat patients.
"Patients living with sickle cell disease can see drastic improvement in their healthcare outcomes when they receive coordinated care by a connected team of providers," Rep. Dunn in a statement, noting that "Unfortunately, many receive a patchwork of disorganized care that can lead to avoidable complications that impact their quality of life."
As a result, the Florida Congressman continued, "Coordinating care by establishing sickle cell disease health homes and streamlining care with a single team of providers will improve clinical outcomes for countless patients. Crucially, streamlining care for patients with sickle cell disease on Medicaid will also save the program money. I'm proud to join Congressman Davis in introducing this important legislation that will benefit Medicaid and the patients it serves."
Rep. Davis, the bill's cosponsor, thanked Rep. Dunn, calling him a "bipartisan partner in this effort to continue helping tens of thousands of Americans who suffer from this dreadful sickle cell disease."
"This legislation would allow state Medicaid programs to cover home health services and instruct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue best known practices for states to advance comprehensive care to sickle cell warriors," Rep. Davis concluded.
