Bill > H1346

This bill aims to improve sickle cell disease care in Massachusetts through multiple comprehensive initiatives. The legislation establishes a Statewide Steering Committee on Sickle Cell Disease to develop partnerships, create educational materials, and support individuals with the disease across various life stages. It creates a sickle cell disease detection and education program to promote screening, especially among underserved populations, and provides grants to organizations for outreach and counseling services. The bill mandates the development of a sickle cell disease registry to collect comprehensive data on patients, their treatments, and health outcomes, which will help researchers and policymakers better understand and address the disease. Additionally, the legislation requires Medicaid managed care organizations to implement a quality strategy for sickle cell disease care, including improved identification of patients, provider network capacity, care coordination, and provider training. The bill also requires insurance providers to cover fertility preservation services for patients whose medical treatments might cause infertility, ensuring that individuals with sickle cell disease have options to preserve their reproductive capabilities. Importantly, the legislation emphasizes a holistic approach to sickle cell disease care, focusing not just on medical treatment but also on education, social support, and addressing health disparities.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1346