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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Taylor
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/28/07
HB
SHORT TITLE REPORT ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE COSTS
SB SM 43
ANALYST Hanika Ortiz
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)
FY07
FY08
FY09 3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
Total
$0.1 see
narrative
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Memorial 43 requests the Department of Health report on the costs of Sickle Cell disease
in New Mexico. The memorial further reflects that Sickle Cell disease disproportionately affects
African American and Hispanic New Mexicans.
The memorial provides for the following:
•
Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the country.
•
Sickle cell disease creates a chronic, painful condition that affects people throughout their
lives.
•
In the United States, most patients with sickle cell disease are of African, Hispanic or
Mediterranean descent.
•
People of all ethnic backgrounds can have sickle cell disease.
•
About one in three hundred seventy-five African American babies and one in one
thousand to one thousand four hundred Hispanic babies are diagnosed with sickle cell
disease each year in the United States.
•
The average lifespan of a person with sickle cell disease is only forty-five years.
•
Approximately one in every four thousand Americans is born with a form of sickle cell
disease.
•
Two and one-half million Americans have the sickle cell trait; and sickle cell disease
affects the lives of thousands who are hampered by physical and mental limitations and
debilitating pain.
pg_0002
Senate Memorial 43 – Page
2
•
While research and treatment are progressing, patients with sickle cell disease suffer from
dangerous blood clots and are prone to strokes.
The memorial resolves that the Department of Health report its findings to the interim legislative
health and human services committee by November 2007.
The memorial further resolves that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of
health, the chair and vice-chair of the health and human services committee and to the Governor.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The memorial is not clear if the Department of Health is being requested to provide a report; or,
if the Department is being requested to conduct a study. Costs will be determined by which
approach is used to provide the information requested.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell
disease have red blood cells that become hard and pointed instead of soft and round. Sickle cells
cause anemia, pain; and, the blockage of blood flow caused by the sickle cells also causes
damage to most organs.
There is no universal cure for sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell disease is just not present in African Americans and Hispanic Americans; it is also
present in French Corsicans, Sardinians, and Sicilians, mainland Italians, Greeks, Turks and
Cypriots. Sickle cell disease also appears in Middle Eastern countries and Asia.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Sickle cell patients are best managed in a comprehensive multi-disciplinary program.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
The title of the Act requests only a “report" on costs of the disease; whereas, the body of the bill
requests a study of the affects and incidence of sickle cell disease.
AHO/nt