7/27/2019 ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICAH KELLNERS BILL TO COVER HEMOPHILIA OUTPATIENT TREATMENT UNDER CHILD HEALTH

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CHAIRMAN

Libraries & Education TechnologyCommittee

COMMITTEES

Banks

Cities

Consumer Affairs and Protection

Racing and Wagering

Steering

October 24, 2013FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICAH KELLNERS

BILL TO COVER HEMOPHILIA OUTPATIENT

TREATMENT UNDER CHILD HEALTH PLUS IS

SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR CUOMO

Kellner Law Ensures That Young New Yorkers with Hemophilia & OtherClotting Protein Deficiencies Will Have Outpatient Services Covered

Under States Child Health Plus Program

Legislation authored by Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner that provides outpatient coverageunder the States Child Health Plus program to New Yorkers with hemophilia and other clotting

protein deficiencies was signed into law yesterday by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The law will

take effect on April 1st, 2014.

Assembly Member Kellner said, Its a great day for young New Yorkers with hemophilia and

other blood clotting deficiencies, who will soon be eligible for coverage of their conditions under

the States Child Health Plus program thanks to this new law. This is a long-overdue measure toclose the gap in coverage for these New Yorkers that occurred when the legislation creating

Child Health Plus was first drafted 22 years ago.

I am grateful to Governor Cuomo for signing this important measure; to my colleagues in the

Assembly who voted unanimously for it; to Senate sponsor Joseph Robach for leading a

bipartisan majority in passing this bill through the State Senate; and to the advocates, patients,

and families whove worked so long and hard to secure its enactment into law.

Thomas Wilmarth, Chair of theNew York State Bleeding Disorders Coalition, said, This bill

will allow children with bleeding disorders who are on Child Health Plus to have equal and fair

access to the same standard model of care that those on Medicaid and private insurance currentlyhave. No longer will we have families keeping themselves in Medicaid or spending themselves

down into Medicaid to ensure that their child has access to life saving medication. This is bothgood for the State and for the health of children with bleeding disorders. The New York State

Bleeding Disorders Coalition would like to thank our bill sponsors, Assemblyman Micah Kellner

and Senator Joseph Robach, for their leadership in getting this bill introduced, and all of the co-sponsors and legislators who supported and guided us through the process.

THE ASSEMBLY

STATE OF NEW

YORK

ALBANY

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A00962&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Yhttp://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/child_health_plus/http://nysbdcoalition.org/http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A00962&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Yhttp://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/child_health_plus/http://nysbdcoalition.org/

7/27/2019 ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICAH KELLNERS BILL TO COVER HEMOPHILIA OUTPATIENT TREATMENT UNDER CHILD HEALTH

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BACKGROUND: The legislation (A. 962A/S. 02186-A), which passed the Assembly and theState Senate earlier this year, amends Subdivision 7 of section 2510 of New York State public

health law to ensure that persons with hemophilia and other clotting protein deficiencies who are

otherwise eligible for the Child Health Plus program shall have access to reimbursement foroutpatient blood clotting factor concentrates and other necessary treatments and services.

Hemophilia is a rare hereditary bleeding disorder affecting approximately 2,000 New Yorkers,resulting from a deficiency in blood proteins known as clotting factors. Without an adequate

supply of clotting factors, individuals can experience prolonged bleeding following routinemedical and dental procedures, trauma, and a range of physical activities. Additionally,

individuals with hemophilia often experience spontaneous internal bleeding that can cause severejoint damage, chronic pain, and even death.

Prior to the 1970s, individuals with hemophilia rarely lived beyond middle age. Early treatmentgenerally entailed transfusions of whole blood and plasma at hospitals. These treatments proved

arduous, time-consuming and only minimally effective. The advent of commercially prepared

blood treatment allowed for home infusion and improved the efficacy and convenience oftreatment for persons with hemophilia and other clotting protein deficiencies.

In addition to hemophilia, disorders resulting from blood protein deficiencies include VonWillebrand Disease (VWD), the most common bleeding disorder, affecting approximately two

million Americans. Individuals with the severest form of VWD rely on clotting factor treatments

similar to those used by individuals with hemophilia.

Clotting factor products produced today (derived from plasma or recombinant technology) are

very safe and highly effective medications. Access to therapies has vastly improved both the

health outcomes and quality of life for the majority of patients and their families. Many patientstoday rely on a prophylactic regimen to prevent bleeding episodes. This preventative regimen,

along with the coordinated care provided by hemophilia treatment centers, has significantly

reduced visits to emergency rooms, hospitalizations and joint damage. Further, the ability to

manage hemophilia and other bleeding disorders outside of the hospital setting has improvedattendance for school-aged children, decreased absenteeism from work for adult patients and

caregivers, vastly improved the ability of affected persons to join the work force, and minimized

life disruptions for the entire family.

Until now, New York States Child Health Plus program presently has not covered clotting

factor therapies prescribed for use at home by individuals with hemophilia and other clottingprotein deficiencies. The new law authored by Assembly Kellner will bring New York State into

line with other statewide childrens health programs; until now, New York has been the only

state whose childrens health program did not provide coverage for outpatient clotting factorproducts used by individuals eligible for a statewide childrens health program.

There are eight comprehensive hemophilia treatment centers in New York State, including the

Regional Comprehensive Hemophilia Diagnostic and Treatment Center at the Weill CornellMedical Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, located in the 76 th Assembly District

represented by Assembly Member Kellner. These centers provide preventive medicine to

eliminate or minimize complications stemming from hemophilia and other associatedcoagulation disorders.

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ALBANY OFFICE: Room 654, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5676, FAX: 518-455-5282DISTRICT OFFICE: 1365 First Avenue, New York, New York 10021 212-860-4906, FAX: 917-432-2983

EMAIL: kellnerm@assembly.state.ny.us