Federal grants would support connected sickle cell care teams

The federal health secretary would award grants to teams that coordinate sickle cell care. Each team must include a hospital, clinic, or university health center, at least one partner care provider, and a community nonprofit. Congress would need to provide funding. Partner care providers must have agreements with the medical center and a community nonprofit and include a community health worker. The bill would authorize funding for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year afterward.

Grant recipients could help patients pay insurance costs or travel to needed care. Insurance help would serve sickle cell disease patients. Travel help would serve those who lack access to needed in-person care at the treatment centers. Assistance would depend on Congress providing funding and grant recipients choosing to offer it. Insurance payments must comply with state and federal law.

A national center would coordinate grant recipients, and the CDC would collect and maintain sickle cell disease data. The CDC, the federal public health agency, would track funded activities, patient health outcomes, and complications in consultation with states participating in its sickle cell data program. Congress would need to provide funding for these activities.