An organized approach to primary and preventive care for SCD patients is desperately needed to improve the health and quality of life for this population, which we believe will have the added benefit of reducing costs to both the Medicare and Medicaid programs by reducing emergency department and inpatient hospital utilization. We are suggesting authorization language for $30 million that is modeled on a demonstration program included in the recently passed legislation to address the opioid crisis (PL 115 – 271, SUPPORT for Patients and Community Act). Under the model program, the focus will be on providing specialized and primary care in appropriate outpatient settings. With the recent publication of clinical practice guidelines in sickle cell disease and approvals of new treatments for SCD and more in the pipeline, there is no better time than now to improve this patient populations’ access to state-of-the-art care.

We ask for your leadership on this issue by including in the next stimulus bill an authorization for CMS to develop a demo program to improve outpatient services under Medicare and Medicaid to this vulnerable population. During this time of crisis, it is critical to initiate this program. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

__________________              __________________  __________________

Danny K. Davis                        Barbara Lee                 Terri Sewell                 

Member of Congress                Member of Congress     Member of Congress

_________________                __________________  __________________

G. K. Butterfield                       Steve Cohen                 Shelia Jackson-Lee

Member of Congress                Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________              __________________  __________________

Alcee L. Hastings                     Darren Soto                  John Larson

Member of Congress                Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________              __________________  __________________

Bennie G. Thompson                Bobby Rush                 Andre Carson

Member of Congress                Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________              __________________  __________________

Jahana Hayes                           Josh Harder                  Bill Foster

Member of Congress                Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________              __________________  __________________

Eleanor Holmes Norton            Mike Sherill                 Marcia L. Fudge

Member of Congress               Member of Congress   Member of Congress

__________________  __________________  __________________

Ted Deutch                  Eddie Bernice Johnson  Bonnie Watson Coleman

Member of Congress    Member of Congress    Member of Congress

_________________  __________________  __________________

Alma S. Adams            Dwight Evans               Joyce Beatty

Member of Congress   Member of Congress    Member of Congress

_________________  __________________  __________________

Jim McGovern             Donald M. Payne, Jr.    Jesús G. “Chuy” Garcia

Member of Congress   Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________  __________________  __________________

Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.   Lisa Blunt Rochester    Thomas R. Suozzi

Member of Congress    Member of Congress    Member of Congress

__________________  __________________  __________________

Yvette D, Clarke          Al Green                      Rashida Tlaib

Member of Congress  Member of Congress   Member of Congress

__________________  __________________ 

Gregory W. Meeks       Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr.

Member of Congress    Member of Congress