Governor Hochul Signs Sanders' Sickle Cell Bill.

Queens, New York - December 13th, 2023 - New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Sickle Cell Disease Detection and Education bill into law (S.1839-A/SANDERS Same as A.2609-A/Hyndman).

This new law requires the Minority Health Council, within the Office of Health Equity of the New York State Department of Health, to consider and advise the NYS Commissioner of Health on sickle cell disease. This includes the promotion of screening and detection of sickle cell disease, especially among underserved populations, educating the public on sickle cell, and providing counseling services. The Council is also tasked with considering the feasibility of establishing a statewide public education and outreach campaign, the provision of grants to approved organizations, and a healthcare professional education program.
 

The new law also provides additional requirements for the sickle cell health care and wellness education and outreach program by requiring the NYS Department of Health to consult with patients with sickle cell disease in the production of information.
 

Senator James Sanders Jr. said, "While there is no cure for sickle cell disease, early detection and education are essential to improving the lives of those affected by this devastating condition. This bill will help to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their race or ethnicity, have access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health." 
 

Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corp International applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for signing Senator Sanders and Assemblywoman Hyndman bill requiring the Health Equity Council to advise the New York State Health Commissioner regarding Sickle Cell disease.  “Education and screening for Sickle Cell disease in underserved communities is necessary to protect those communities,” stated Merlene Smith-Sotillo, President of Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corp International, “this law will go a long way to assist the Department of Health’s understanding of Sickle Cell and better its efforts to promote awareness in those underserved communities.”
 

About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies are born with the sickle cell trait, and about 1 in 365 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell disease. There are also many people who come from Hispanic, Southern European, Middle Eastern, or Asian Indian backgrounds that have the disease. A sickle cell disease detection and education program is crucial to protecting parents and children who are carriers of the trait. Hospitals only began screening for the gene in 2006, that means that there are generations of people who are not aware that they are carriers and could pass it on to their children. Education and screening to underserved populations is necessary to protect future generations of children in the United States.