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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Lawrence Curry |
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Curry advocates hemophilia awareness
HARRISBURG, April 3 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously adopted H.R. 650, introduced by Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., recognizing April as Hemophilia Awareness Month.
Hemophilia is a blood disorder in which blood does not clot, which makes every cut or bruise a life-threatening condition. More than 1,700 Pennsylvanians live with the illness, which can be treated with blood transfusions containing blood clotting agents.
Almost all those affected are males.
In conjunction with the resolution, Curry attended a rally at the state Capitol urging the governor to restore funding to the seven state-approved hemophilia treatment centers where patients have access to specialized physicians and other services that allow them to treat their illness at home, avoiding lengthy and costly hospital stays.
During the rally, Curry was presented with a citation from the Pennsylvania chapters of the National Hemophilia Foundation recognizing his “strong leadership and compassionate support of people affected by bleeding disorders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Curry made his own presentation during the rally, as he gave a copy of H.R. 650 to Ann Rogers, executive director of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation.
“Last year the governor cut funding for hemophilia treatment centers from over $1 million to less than $950,000. This year he's proposing an additional five percent reduction in funding. This could jeopardize the health of hemophilia patients, as well as add to the treatment costs,” Curry said.
Curry has also introduced H.B. 635, which would protect patients’ access to the treatment centers by establishing care standards for hemophiliacs. It would also require insurance companies to cover in-patient, out-patient and home-treatment of hemophilia, even in the new state health exchanges, which are being created in response to the Affordable Care Act. The bill is in the House Insurance Committee for consideration.
“The governor continues to slash at health and social service and education budgets while adhering to his pledge to Washington cronies not to raise taxes for any reason, and now we are seeing the disastrous effects of his plans,” Curry said. “I will keep the focus on spending for the right reasons.”
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