Senate Bill No. 1473 mandates that the Commissioner of Social Services provide Medicaid coverage for gene therapies that have been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for the treatment of sickle cell disease. This requirement aligns with existing federal law, which generally necessitates Medicaid to cover such therapies from manufacturers participating in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Additionally, the commissioner is tasked with applying for federal initiatives, such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to enhance cost-effective access to these therapies.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that by January 1, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report to the Human Services Committee detailing efforts to improve access to the therapies, the number of Medicaid recipients who have received coverage, the associated costs to the state, and the estimated appropriations needed for this coverage. The bill does not introduce any new fiscal impacts, as it conforms to current practices regarding Medicaid coverage for these therapies.