Novel Access Model For Sickle Cell Disease Gene Therapy Could Be Template

Kevin Wake, 54, of Kansas City, has sickle cell disease. Every six weeks he receives blood transfusions that help alleviate the pain. Here he receives a transfusion at the Sickle Cell Center at University Health.(Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) TNS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in July that 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will join a new voluntary program intended to improve patient access to and lower costs for gene therapies targeting sickle cell disease. This was a Biden administration initiative, which the Trump administration decided to continue to implement. It ties payment for two novel gene therapies to positive clinical outcomes. This could make such treatments that cost millions be mor