II
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 721
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2025
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration project to improve outpatient clinical care for individuals with sickle cell disease.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act
.
Enabling State Medicaid programs to provide care through health homes to individuals with sickle cell disease
Section 1945 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396w–4) is amended—
in subsection (a), by inserting (and, beginning January 1, 2026, to eligible individuals with sickle cell disease (as defined in subsection (c)(5)))
after chronic conditions
;
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1), by inserting and each eligible individual with sickle cell disease
after chronic conditions
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Special rule relating to sickle cell disease health homes
In general
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Secretary may approve a State plan amendment under this section that is designed to provide health home services primarily to eligible individuals with sickle cell disease (in this section referred to as a sickle cell disease-focused State plan amendment).
Requirement to provide dental and vision services
In the case of a sickle cell disease-focused State plan amendment approved by the Secretary on or after January 1, 2026, a State shall ensure the provision of dental and vision services to eligible individuals with sickle cell disease who are enrolled in such health home. Such requirement shall apply irrespective of existing requirements related to comparability or whether or not the State provides dental or vision services to other Medicaid beneficiaries.
Report requirements
In general
In the case of a State with a sickle cell disease-focused State plan amendment, such State shall, at the end of the first 8 fiscal year quarters that such State plan amendment is in effect, submit to the Secretary a report on the following, with respect to eligible individuals with sickle cell disease provided health home services under such State plan amendment:
The quality of health care provided to such individuals, with a focus on outcomes relevant to the recovery of each such individual.
The access of such individuals to health care.
The total expenditures of such individuals for health care.
Applicable measures
For purposes of the report required under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall specify all applicable measures for determining quality of health care provided to eligible individuals with sickle cell disease, access to health care by such individuals, and expenditures on health care by such individuals.
Best practices
Not later than June 30, 2026, the Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services best practices for designing and implementing a sickle cell disease-focused State plan amendment, based on clinical practice guidelines for sickle cell disease developed by medical specialty societies and in consultation with sickle cell disease providers and patient advocacy organizations.
Definitions
For purposes of this section:
Eligible individual with sickle cell disease
The term eligible individual with sickle cell disease means, with respect to a State, an individual who satisfies all of the following:
The individual is eligible for medical assistance under the State plan or under a waiver of such plan.
The individual has sickle cell disease.
The individual may or may not have previously received health home services under any other State plan amendment approved for the State under this section by the Secretary.
Sickle cell disease
The term sickle cell disease means an inherited blood disorder affecting red blood cells that occurs when an individual has inherited a sickle cell gene from each parent, as identified by a newborn screening or other genetic test.
; and
in subsection (h)(5), by inserting or a health home for eligible individuals with sickle cell disease
after chronic conditions
.