Bill > SB01473

This bill requires Connecticut's Medicaid program to provide coverage for gene therapies that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for treating sickle cell disease, a serious inherited blood disorder that causes painful and potentially life-threatening complications. The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Social Services take several key actions: first, implement Medicaid coverage for these FDA-approved gene therapies; second, actively seek out federal initiatives that could help make these potentially expensive treatments more cost-effective, such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and third, submit a comprehensive report to the state legislature's human services committee by January 1, 2026. This report must detail the state's efforts to increase access to these therapies, provide data on how many Medicaid recipients have received the treatments, outline the state's costs for providing the therapies, and estimate the future state appropriations needed to continue this coverage. The bill becomes effective immediately upon passage and represents a significant step toward improving healthcare access for individuals with sickle cell disease.

Health and Social Services

Human Services Committee (J)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01473&which_year=2025