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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Lawrence Curry |
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Curry's hemophilia bill advances to the state Senate
HARRISBURG, Aug. 5 – The House of Representatives today passed state Rep. Lawrence Curry's bill that would create a standard of care for Pennsylvanians with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
"This bill is necessary to ensure these patients can continue to receive quality care that leads to a quality life," said Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila.
House Bill 620 would preserve access to the following services essential to the well-being of people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders:
- medical services provided by the eight state-recognized hemophilia programs,
- the clinical coagulation laboratories associated with the eight state-recognized programs,
- all blood-clotting products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
- full-service home care pharmacies and home support services, and
- mandatory medical screenings for bleeding disorders for women prior to undergoing certain surgical procedures.
"In the past, patients had to endure lengthy and costly hospital stays to manage their disease. Today most can treat their illness at home through the services of the eight state-recognized hemophilia treatment centers," Curry said. "However, as insurance companies and Medicaid look to cut costs, many hemophilia patients are worried they'll be forced to leave these centers and see a physician participating with a particular insurance plan who may not be as familiar with bleeding disorders."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies show a 40 percent reduction in mortality and morbidity for patients seen at hemophilia treatment centers.
Hemophilia is a rare, genetic bleeding disorder that affects more than 20,000 people nationwide, including approximately 1,700 in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 620 now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
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