Subcommittee asks DMAS to study feasibility of Medicaid benefit and health homes for sickle cell disease
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Summary
HB 136 would ask DMAS to determine the feasibility of an optional Medicaid benefit for sickle cell disease and the feasibility of Medicaid health homes to coordinate care; the subcommittee unanimously reported and referred the bill to Appropriations.
Delegate Reid presented HB 136 on behalf of former Delegate Candy Martin King. The bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to evaluate whether Virginia could adopt an optional Medicaid benefit to address the unique, chronic and high-cost needs of people living with sickle cell disease and to assess creating Medicaid health homes to coordinate their care.
Reid described the proposal as a feasibility and planning request rather than an immediate policy change: "This is a request or direction to DMAS to be able to determine the feasibility of including that as part of our current Medicaid plan," she said. The bill envisions a coordinated package of services—called Medicaid health homes—that can be covered under Medicaid to address the disease’s clinical and social complexity.
There were no speakers in opposition. The subcommittee moved and unanimously voted to report and refer HB 136 to Appropriations by a 6–0 vote.
The referral sends the feasibility request to Appropriations, where fiscal resources and implementation considerations will be evaluated.