Legislative Victories
Sickle Cell Association of Houston works with State Representative Jarvis Johnson & Senator Borris Miles during the 86th legislative session, passing historic legislation benefitting all Texans living with SCD aimed at improving their quality of life.
HB 2576
Created an exemption for sickle cell patients as it pertains to prescribing and dispensing opioids. This exemption expands the current statutes that exists for cancer and hospice patients. When sickle cell patients are in crisis, the symptoms are extremely painful, this bill would allow them to benefit from pain management practices used by doctors and specialist across the state.
HB 3394
Allows the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue Sickle Cell Disease Awareness specialty plates, any monies after the administrative costs will go to create a program with Texas Southern University to provide grants for non-profits who provide services to persons with sickle cell disease.
HB 3405
Establishes a sickle cell task force composed of state officials, physicians, a person with sickle cell, or a parent with sickle cell and a hospital representative. This task force will present recommendations to the legislature on how to raise awareness about sickle cell disease, and present policy recommendations on how to improve sickle cell disease related issues.
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HCR 117
Designates September as the official Sickle Cell Awareness month in the State of Texas.
