Friends,

I recently led a letter with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra calling for renewed attention to treatment options for sickle cell disease (SCD).

Sickle cell is a common blood disorder that affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among Black and Brown communities like mine. In fact, this issue is incredibly personal for me because I’ve lost some of my own family members who passed away from this disease and I never want anyone else to experience the pain that sickle cell patients endure.

Our current healthcare system is poorly equipped to ensure that patients have access to therapies and treatment options for sickle cell disease, even though they are often in the same price range as other gene therapies. The gaps exist in all areas of healthcare, but they are most glaring within the Medicaid system, which is why the federal government has a role to play in expanding access to these treatments.

We need to continue fighting for equitable care. Will you add your name today and join our calls for increased access to treatment options for sickle cell disease?

I know together, we can provide hope for a cure to all those fighting sickle cell disease.

-- Stacey Plaskett