This September, Learn about Sickle Cell Disease During September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes the body to produce abnormal, crescent-shaped blood cells that fail to properly deliver oxygen to the body like regular disc-shaped cells. There are an estimated 100,000 people living with SCD in the United States, making it the most prevalent genetic blood disorder in the country. Although SCD can affect people from any racial or ethnic group, it is most common among Black people and Hispanic people. The most prevalent lifelong genetic blood disorder in the United States, SCD occurs in about 1 out of every 365 Black births and about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.  Additional racial and ethnic groups are also affected by the disease, in particular, people of Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian and Mediterranean backgrounds. While treatment options for SCD can vary, only about 1 in 4 patients with SCD receive the standard of care that is described in current guidelines, with studies showing that patients do not receive treatment for their pain as soon as, or in appropriate doses as, other patients. During National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, CMS OMH is highlighting the disparities that continue to impact the populations that we serve and providing resources to help improve care. Review and share the below resources, including a new video on SCD, during National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month and beyond. Resources Watch our new Sickle Cell Disease Video to learn more about SCD disparities, symptoms, and treatment options. View the Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries Age 18-75 Years, in 2016 (PDF) data highlight, which provides data on prevalence rates, other chronic conditions common among SCD patients, and more. Download The Invisible Crisis: Understanding Pain Management in Medicare Beneficiaries with Sickle Cell Disease to learn more about treatment options for pain management in SCD patients. Review the Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease among Medicaid Beneficiaries in 2012 (PDF) data highlight, which provides a breakdown of SCD prevalence by state. Visit our Coverage to Care initiative, which provides resources for understanding health coverage and finding primary care and preventive services, including chronic care management resources for providers and patients. View CDC data and statistics on SCD to learn more about the impact of SCD in the United States and across the world. Review the CDC, American Society of Hematology, and Sickle Cell Disease Association of America’s Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit, which is a collection of resources to increase the understanding of sickle cell trait. Visit the HHS Office of Minority Health’s About Sickle Cell Disease webpage to learn more about SCD and find available the latest advances, resources, webinars, and more.

 

 

CMS Office of Minority Health  |  Working to Achieve Health Equity Paid for by the US Department of Health and Human Services