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We the people ask the federal government to Take or explain a position on an issue or policy:

Declare Sickle Cell Disease a national health priority and support legislation to expand and establish SCD programs.

Created by S.B. on September 22, 2014

Dear President Obama,

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is Real!

SCD is a major public health concern causing critical healthcare impacts in the nation.

Reauthorization of the Sickle Cell Treatment Act – Bill H.R. 5124 will expand the national newborn screening program, develop a comprehensive adult transition program, continue public surveillance, expand research efforts and establish up to 25 sickle cell treatment centers throughout the US all in an effort to support the creation of a sustainable comprehensive model of care for individuals affected by SCD.

We request acknowledgement and declaration of SCD as a national health priority; support of legislative Bill-H.R. 5124 and return funding for SCD programs in the President’s budget.

Sincerely

SCDAA & SCD Community
sicklecelldisease.org

Health Care

Response to Petition

A Response to Your Petition on Sickle Cell Disease

As you know, sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common inherited blood disorder that affects an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 Americans, and can lead to lifelong disabilities and reduced average life expectancy. The disease disproportionately affects people of color, and occurs among roughly one out of every 500 African American births and one out of every 36,000 Hispanic American births.

SCD is a major public health concern that warrants ongoing federal support, and is a priority for President Obama and his Administration.

That's why the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is actively engaged in a number of efforts to help do the following:

  • Better identify individuals with SCD
  • Improve access to care
  • Gather data about best practices in order to improve treatment therapies
  • Raise awareness of SCD
  • Promote health education about SCD
  • Search for a cure through ongoing research efforts

HHS is developing Healthy People 2020 objectives to support SCD-related health promotion and disease intervention initiatives across the federal government. To evaluate progress in meeting these objectives and better inform future federally funded research and prevention efforts, the Department is developing a pilot national surveillance system to collect data to better understand characteristics of those affected by SCD, what complications these individuals are experiencing, and what gaps exist in meeting their health needs.

Through the Health Resources and Services Administration's SCD Treatment and Newborn Screening Programs, HHS is also expanding access to care for individuals with SCD by increasing the number of providers treating patients with SCD who are knowledgeable about current treatment options and identifying those with the disease sooner so that they can begin receiving recommended treatments. HHS is also increasing patient education and outreach efforts for individuals with SCD or who are carriers of the sickle cell gene mutation to prevent infections and ensure needed medical care is received. You can read a recent report detailing these efforts here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additional materials to raise awareness of SCD among teachers, non-medical professionals, and other members of the general public -- all of which you can find online here.

We're also investing in critical research on SCD at institutions across the country. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds research focused on increasing the effective use of known SCD therapies, discovering new treatment options, ameliorating complications, and ultimately finding a cure. In September, NIH released the first systematic and evidence-based report to assist clinicians in delivering care to people living with SCD.

Finally, the CDC has an agency-wide working group to explore opportunities to address unmet needs in SCD research, surveillance, and health education. Through the efforts of this working group and consultation across agencies within HHS, the Department will consider other ways in which it can strengthen its current activities regarding SCD.

We still have much more work to do, but we will continue to make progress -- not just to help the tens of thousands of Americans currently living with sickle cell disease, but to ensure that one day, we have a generation where the disease is only something that's read about in history books.

Thank you for your adding your name to this petition, and for your involvement in the We the People platform.


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