BILL NUMBER: S1578
SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the
"Syd O. Sotillo Sickle Cell Treatment Act"
 
PURPOSE:
Establishes the Sickle Cell Treatment Act
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would set forth that this act shall be known and
may be cited as the "Syd 0. Sotillo Sickle Cell Treatment Act".
Section 2 amends the public health law by adding a new section 2807-aa
which mandates the Commissioner of the Department of Health to designate
Sickle cell centers for excellence and outpatient treatment centers.
Section 3 amends subdivision 8 of section 3331 of the public health law,
as added by section 7-a of part D of chapter 57 of the laws of 2018
relating to opioid exemption.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Sickle Cell patients experience a multitude of symptoms that can range
from mild to severe. There is little to no awareness of possible ways to
manage these symptoms, which is why centers for excellence (COE), and
outpatient treatment centers are essential.
The Centers of Excellence would serve as a hub for adults and children
alike to have access to professionals that can understand, monitor, and
provide care in the most effective way possible. The COEs would further
serve as leaders to other institutions in the treatment of SCD and would
establish the best practices that could then be used in other healthcare
facilities around the state.
Outpatient hospitals would help reduce the need of sickle cell patients
to check into the emergency room for pain, which is the traditional
response of people who are suffering an SCD pain crisis. Patients would
have access to readily available services that are designated to help
specifically with SCD pain management and symptoms because outpatient
services would be available in areas where there is sufficient need for
the service. The reduced burden on emergency rooms, especially in times
of health crisis, can help patients and doctors alike.
Pain is a major symptom of Sickle Cell disease (SCD) and one of the
principal reasons that people with SCD go to the emergency room... Pain
experienced by sickle cell patients manifests itself as abrupt and very
debilitating pain in any part of the body. Individuals diagnosed with
sickle cell can begin having pain crises as early as 6 months of age.
This legislation will allow certain sickle cell patients to easily gain
access to opioid therapy. Currently, sickle cell patients are restricted
in being treated with opioids. However, due to the debilitating pain
sickle cell disease patients encounter during crisis, opioid therapy
serves to reduce the pain that patients experience.
Syd Sotillo, 30, of Brooklyn, New York passed away on April 20, 2012, as
a result of medical issues including sickle cell anemia. This bill is
named in memory of him.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022 REPORTED FROM HEALTH AND COMMITTED TO SENATE FINANCE
2022 referred to assembly ways and means
2021 REFERRED TO SENATE HEALTH
2021 reported from health referred to assembly ways and means
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1578: 3331 public health law, 3331(8) public health law