Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018 (S.2465) Passes

On July 18, 2018, the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition sent a letter to the Senators Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray with other members of the Senate HELP Committee copied. AAEM signed on to the letter as part of the Coalition and supported Senators Alexander and Murry in their work to pass S. 2465. The bill officially passed in the Senate on December 11, 2018 and was signed by the President on December 18, 2018.

The Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment Act of 2018 is bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The bill has four components:

• Expresses support for SCD research
• Authorizes public health initiatives in SCD
• Authorizes a SCD surveillance program
• Reauthorizes the existing SCD Treatment Demonstration Program at HRSA

Learn more about this Coalition from AAEM representative Leslie Zun, MD MBA FAAEM.