Federal Policy
HHS Expands Sickle Cell Care Network to Seven Regional Hubs
HHS has expanded its sickle cell disease regional care network from five to seven regions through a new program run by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence Program funds seven regional coordinating hubs intended to connect patients with specialty care and community services closer to home. Each hub will partner with at least three spokes, pairing a clinical center with community-based organizations. HRSA also plans to contract with an organization to provide national training, technical assistance and coordination for community health workers, community-based groups and health centers.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agencies and health plans covering sickle cell populations gain new federally funded care coordination infrastructure that could reduce specialty care gaps and emergency utilization among beneficiaries with the disease.