S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3676--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 29, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN, SANTABARBARA, TAYLOR, STECK -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the
"Sickle Cell Treatment Act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "Sickle Cell Treatment Act".
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2807-bb
to read as follows:
§ 2807-BB. SICKLE CELL CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
CENTERS. 1. CENTERS FOR SICKLE CELL CARE EXCELLENCE. THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL DESIGNATE FIVE GENERAL HOSPITALS OR HOSPICES WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO
CENTERS NORTH OF PUTNAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES UNDER ARTICLE FORTY OF THIS
CHAPTER, UPON SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION, AS CENTERS FOR SICKLE CELL CARE
EXCELLENCE. THE DESIGNATIONS SHALL BE MADE THROUGH AN APPLICATION
DESIGNED BY THE DEPARTMENT, AND BASED ON SERVICE, STAFFING AND OTHER
CRITERIA AS DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSIONER. THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
SHALL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SICKLE CELL DISEASE CARE, TREATMENT, PALLIA-
TIVE CARE, EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES AND SHALL CONDUCT SPECIALIZED
RESEARCH INTO THE CARE, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE.
DESIGNATION AS A CENTER FOR SICKLE CELL CARE EXCELLENCE SHALL NOT ENTI-
TLE A CENTER TO ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT, BUT MAY BE UTILIZED IN OUTREACH
AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES. EACH CENTER FOR SICKLE CELL CARE
EXCELLENCE SHALL AFFILIATE AND COOPERATE WITH MAJOR CENTERS OF HIGHER
LEARNING, INCLUDING MEDICAL COLLEGES, AND LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTI-
TUTES IN THE STATE. THE STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL ENTER INTO APPROPRIATE
LEGAL AGREEMENTS TO ENABLE THIS COOPERATION. EACH CENTER FOR SICKLE CELL
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01146-06-5
A. 3676--B 2
CARE EXCELLENCE SHALL RECEIVE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR
FROM THE DEPARTMENT, FROM AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR THAT PURPOSE, TO BE
USED ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE RESEARCH.
2. OUTPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE TEN
HOSPITALS, DISTRIBUTED BASED ON SICKLE CELL PATIENT POPULATION CONCEN-
TRATIONS, AS SICKLE CELL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS WHICH SHALL
PROVIDE PATIENTS TREATMENT FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE AS AN OUTPATIENT.
EACH SICKLE CELL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT CENTER SHALL RECEIVE TWO HUNDRED
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT, FROM AMOUNTS APPRO-
PRIATED FOR THAT PURPOSE, TO BE USED TO ENSURE THE PROPER MANAGEMENT AND
EQUIPPING OF THE CENTERS TO CARE FOR SICKLE CELL PATIENTS.
§ 3. Subdivision 8 of section 3331 of the public health law, as added
by section 7-a of part D of chapter 57 of the laws of 2018, is amended
to read as follows:
8. No opioids shall be prescribed to a patient initiating or being
maintained on opioid treatment for pain which has lasted more than three
months or past the time of normal tissue healing, unless the medical
record contains a written treatment plan that follows generally accepted
national professional or governmental guidelines. The requirements of
this [paragraph] SUBDIVISION shall not apply in the case of patients who
are being treated for SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR cancer that is not in
remission, who are in hospice or other end-of-life care, or whose pain
is being treated as part of palliative care practices.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.