Senate advances bill to require Medicaid coverage of FDA‑approved gene therapies for sickle cell disease

The Connecticut Senate passed legislation intended to ensure that people enrolled in the Husky Medicaid program can receive FDA‑approved gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease.

Senator Lesser moved acceptance of the joint committee's favorable report and urged passage, saying the bill would provide access to “essential, life‑saving treatments” for many Husky enrollees who have sickle cell disease. He described the newer cell and gene therapies as in some cases curative and said most Connecticut patients with the condition are covered by Husky.

Senator Perillo acknowledged the advances cited by the bill’s proponents but said committee testimony raised concerns about potential costs and that some feedback suggested coverage may already exist under Medicaid. Senator Anwar, who identified himself as a practicing physician, described severe outcomes he has observed in patients with sickle cell disease and said the bill would help those patients reach “a normal life” by widening access to treatments now available at specialized centers in Connecticut. Senator Summers also voiced support and cited clinical harms such as chronic wounds and premature stroke.

Senate leadership postponed the immediate vote to accommodate guests in the chamber and then returned to the calendar. An immediate roll‑call vote was ordered and the clerk announced that the legislation passed. Supporters emphasized the small number of eligible patients in the state and the potential for substantial clinical benefit; opponents raised questions about long‑term cost and whether coverage expansions already exist under current Medicaid policy.

The bill’s passage on the Senate floor now advances the measure within the legislative process.