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BOSTON (State House News Service) — Advocates emphasized fertility services Tuesday in their call for legislative action to break down health inequities faced by those with the rare sickle cell disease.
Dr. Maureen Achebe, director of the Brigham and Women's Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, said it "boggles the imagination" that some patients must choose between starting a family and undergoing treatment for the genetic disease.
Legislation supported by event hosts (H 1161) would require MassHealth and commercial insurers to cover fertility preservation services "for individuals undergoing medical treatment that impairs their fertility," according to a summary.
One of the "new, exciting therapies" for sickle cell is gene therapy, Achebe said, but that involves undergoing chemotherapy which affects the patient's fertility.
Insurers generally cover fertility preservation services for patients receiving chemo for cancer, speakers said, but not so for those undergoing chemo for sickle cell.
Sen. Paul Feeney, who hosted the State House lobby day, said "anybody that is taking advantage of these new treatments, which are a complete game-changer for those that have sickle cell, we want to make sure that they're also able to go through a family-building journey."
Written By Sam Doran/SHNS
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