HR0255 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0255 LRB099 11389 GRL 32225 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is an inherited multi-organ disorder leading to serious morbidity and premature mortality; people with sickle cell disease can start having episodes of severe pain after the first few months of life; sickle cell disease affects millions of people throughout the world, with 90,000-100,000 people in the United States and 4000-5000 people here in Illinois affected by the disease; and

WHEREAS, Without proper screening and treatment, children with sickle cell disease are 410 times more likely to have a stroke than children the same age without sickle cell disease; with proper screening and treatment, children with sickle cell disease are still 40 times more likely to have a stroke than children the same age without sickle cell disease; and

WHEREAS, People with sickle cell disease have less access to comprehensive team care than people with genetic disorders such as hemophilia and cystic fibrosis; and

WHEREAS, Because of the nature of sickle cell disease, people suffering from sickle cell disease frequently have unplanned, unpredictable, and reoccurring needs, requiring multiple prolonged hospitalizations and frequent re-admissions within a 30-day period; and

WHEREAS, Most patients with sickle cell disease have or may receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits; currently in Illinois, the 30-Day Readmission Rule affects patients with Medicaid insurance plans; and

WHEREAS, In the most recent nationwide study of 39,324 Medicaid admissions for sickle cell crisis from 2007 to 2012, 40% of patients were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days; and

WHEREAS, The University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System's Sickle Cell Center cares for the largest number of adult sickle cell patients in the Chicago-Metropolitan area, providing care to 649 unique adult sickle cell patients and 239 unique pediatric sickle cell patients in fiscal year 2014; this institution has lost millions of dollars in 30-Day Readmission penalties, and of that about one-third has been attributed to sickle cell patients; and

WHEREAS, Literature shows that a 7-day, 24-hour a day center such as the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System's Sickle Cell Acute Care Center reduces hospital admissions for those with sickle cell disease; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to waive the 30-Day Readmission Rule for those afflicted with sickle cell disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.