Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The author, an executive at Aflac, discusses the need for increased attention and action to address sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic disorder that affects nearly 100,000 Americans. Despite being considered an orphan disease, SCD requires more attention and funding for research, education, and treatment. The author praises Georgia’s recent passage of the Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act, which requires annual reviews of Medicaid-covered SCD medications and treatments. They call on other states to follow suit and ensure access to effective new treatments for SCD patients.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. SCD affects nearly 100,000 Americans, yet it’s considered an orphan disease. Georgia took a step forward with the Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act, but more needs to be done. The author’s employer, Aflac, sponsors the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which has the nation’s largest pediatric SCD program. The author has a personal connection to SCD, having grown up in a community where it was prevalent and having a spouse who treats SCD patients.
The author’s call to action is clear: expand access to screening programs, increase public education, and strengthen public-private partnerships to close gaps in research, treatment, and funding. The goal is to alleviate the impact of SCD on families and ultimately put the suffering of SCD in the history books.
Original observation: SCD is a disease that requires a commitment to access, not just innovation.
Author: Evan Null
