CMS News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Thursday, October 07, 2004 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
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CMS ANNOUNCES $24,683 GRANT TO SICKLE CELL DISEASE TREATMENT CENTER AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. today announced a $24,683 grant to the Sickle Cell Disease Medical Treatment and Education Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
The grant is designed to help teenagers with sickle cell disease complete their high school education and find a rewarding job through mentoring and leadership training. About 700 children and teenagers in the St. Louis metro area have the disease. Fewer than 25 percent of these teenagers with the disease graduate from high school and get more than an entry-level job.
Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri sponsored this grant to Washington University’s affiliate, St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
“Many barriers face teenagers with sickle cell disease, beyond the obvious health care challenges,” Dr. McClellan said. “The additional barriers include graduating from high school, seeking employment or getting additional education in college or vocational school.”
To accomplish these goals, the center will enhance the existing summer camping experience at Camp Crescent for children with the disease in the St. Louis area. In addition, some junior counselors aged 14-16, and counselors aged 17-21, will be designated by the camp to directly mentor campers for one year.
The camp setting will include daily educational sessions about managing the disease led by health professionals with expertise in sickle cell disease, assisted by counselors and junior counselors. This is the only camp program targeted specifically to meet the unique medical, physical and emotional needs of children who have the disease and are unable to attend a normal summer camp.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder involving production of an abnormal type of hemoglobin. There is currently no universal cure for the disease.
“Sickle cell disease impacts tens of thousands of Americans and far too long it has lived in the shadows of other diseases that have received more attention and resources,” said Sen. Talent, author of the proposed Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Act in the Senate. “Secretary Thompson and the Administration understand the importance of making resources available to sickle cell disease patients, especially the many children who suffer from this terrible blood disorder. I am very pleased to partner with CMS in making this important announcement.”
This grant was set aside by Congress for the center. Funding is provided under the fiscal year 2004 appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services. CMS is part of HHS. The grant is for no more than one year.
