THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY V. BROWN, MYERS, JOHNSON, HARKINS, SAINATO, BISHOP, WAGNER, BUXTON, LONGIETTI, MIRABITO, YOUNGBLOOD, PAYTON, ROEBUCK, CALTAGIRONE, BRADFORD, FREEMAN, D. COSTA, READSHAW, PRESTON, JOSEPHS, STABACK, HESS, MOUL, WATERS AND DONATUCCI, APRIL 28, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, APRIL 28, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Expressing an intent to maintain current funding for sickle cell

disease in order to provide for the continued medical

treatment and social services to persons living in this

Commonwealth who suffer with sickle cell disease.

WHEREAS, The funding for sickle cell disease or "SCD" in this

Commonwealth provides comprehensive medical care based on

clinical models of care and a continuum of treatment for

individuals diagnosed with SCD; and

WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, SCD affects over 17,000

persons and over 75,000 persons are trait carriers of the

disease; and

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood

disorder caused by abnormal hemoglobin molecules in the red

blood cells and is characterized by chronic anemia and episodes

of pain; and

WHEREAS, It is a global disease that affects in excess of

100,000 persons in the United States; and

WHEREAS, People of Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian, Sicilian,

Greek, Italian, Indian and Turkish ancestry are also affected,

but African Americans are disproportionately affected with one

in 375 infants born with sickle cell disease and one in ten

persons with sickle cell trait; and

WHEREAS, Hispanics are the second largest population in this

Commonwealth affected by sickle cell disease, having an

incidence of one in 1,000 persons; and

WHEREAS, Complications or manifestations of SCD attribute to

increased hospitalizations requiring comprehensive medical care,

and frequent hospitalizations are often a result of strokes,

acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension or kidney failure;

and

WHEREAS, Community-based programs and medical partners

collaborate to provide comprehensive services to individuals in

our Commonwealth who suffer with SCD; and

WHEREAS, It is important to maintain the current status of

sickle cell disease as an appropriated and dedicated budget line

item; and

WHEREAS, This dedicated line item will serve to reduce health

disparities and continue to enable community and medical

partners in providing a continuum of service and commitment to

individuals suffering from this devastating genetic disease; and

WHEREAS, It is critical not to reduce the funding levels for

sickle cell disease; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its

intent to maintain current funding for sickle cell disease in

order to provide for the continued medical treatment and social

services to persons living in this Commonwealth who suffer with

sickle cell disease.