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Pennsylvania State Senate
09/27/2024 11:12 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=S&cosponId=42026
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 29, 2024 12:20 PM
From: Senator Art Haywood
To: All Senate members
Subject: Resolution Calling for Report on Sickle Cell Disease
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to issue a report on the scope and impact of sickle cell disease in the Commonwealth and the availability of health care services and treatments for individuals with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease.
 
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that predominately affects people of color. The disease produces abnormal red blood cell shapes (i.e., crescent or “sickle”) that cause red blood cells to become hard, sticky, and die at an earlier rate than normal red blood cells. This can lead to serious complications among affected individuals, such as anemia, infections, strokes, and more.
 
Therapeutic interventions for sickle cell disease have greatly improved in recent years, as have the life-spans of those diagnosed with the disease. While these new therapies provide patients and their physicians with more options to manage and treat their condition, many of these therapies may not be available to low-income individuals due to their costs. Additional barriers to obtaining quality care also include limited geographic access, lack of public awareness, and social factors such as stigma and bias.
 
As of 2020, over 3,800 Pennsylvanians were reported living with sickle cell disease, yet this community does not receive the attention and resources they deserve. To bring greater awareness to sickle cell in Pennsylvania, I am introducing a resolution to call on the Joint State Government Commission issue a report on sickle cell disease to include information on the availability of health care and support services for diagnosed individuals, available data and educational efforts and materials, and recommendations for improvements in the delivery of and access to health care services and treatments.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution to bring critical awareness to sickle cell disease in Pennsylvania.



Introduced as SR237