IL HR0255

Urges the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to waive the 30-Day Readmission Rule for patients with sickle cell disease

Notes that 90,000-100,000 people in the United States and 4,000-5,000 people in Illinois have sickle cell disease, an inherited multi-organ disorder causing severe pain and premature mortality

States that 40% of Medicaid patients with sickle cell crisis were readmitted to hospitals within 30 days in a nationwide study of 39,324 admissions from 2007-2012

Identifies that the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System's Sickle Cell Center serves 649 adult and 239 pediatric sickle cell patients and has lost millions in 30-Day Readmission penalties

Indicates that a 24-hour, 7-day acute care center reduces hospital admissions for sickle cell patients