Senator Jim Talent has announced he’s introducing health care legislation aimed at treating and expanding services for those suffering from Sickle Cell Disease. The disease is an inherited blood disorder that primarily affects African-Americans. It is a debilitating disease that can cause life-threatening health complications. Talent’s proposal calls for increased health care access by providing for federal matching funds for Sickle Cell Disease-related services under Medicaid. This makes it easier for doctors to treat patients with the disease and increases the availability of physician and laboratory services. The legislation also calls for the creation of 40 Sickle Cell Disease treatment centers and enhances services available to Sickle Cell Disease patients.
