The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1473 mandates that the Commissioner of Social Services provide Medicaid coverage for FDA-approved gene therapies specifically designed to treat sickle cell disease. This new legislation aims to enhance access to these innovative treatments for Medicaid recipients. Additionally, the commissioner is required to pursue federal initiatives that could facilitate cost-effective access to these therapies, such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that by January 1, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report to the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly. This report will detail efforts to improve access to the therapies, the number of Medicaid recipients benefiting from the coverage, the associated costs to the state, and the estimated appropriations needed to sustain this coverage. The bill introduces new legal language to ensure these provisions are enacted, while no deletions from current law are specified.