A. Mission. The
Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program promotes awareness and provides access
to screening and follow-up education for individuals and families identified
with sickle cell disease and other genetically related
hemoglobinopathies.
B. Scope of
services. The Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program provides the following
enabling services in collaboration with local health departments:
1. Assistance for those unable to pay in
accessing screening that includes screening for the purposes of preconceptual
counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and the identification of sickle cell disease
and related hemoglobinopathies in the child and adult.
2. Individual, community, and professional
consultation about sickle cell disease and related
hemoglobinopathies.
3.
Post-screening counseling regarding carrier status or treatment.
4. Training and technical assistance for
community providers.
5.
Collaboration with Virginia Newborn Screening Program to track infants
identified with sickle cell disease and related hemoglobinopathies to insure
early parent education about the specific hemoglobinopathy, encourage
confirmatory testing, and provide information about a network of Pediatric
Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinics located throughout the state.
C. Criteria to receive services
from the Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program. Individuals are eligible to
receive services from the Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program if they are:
1. Residents of the Commonwealth.
2. Any age.
No financial eligibility criteria are required for clients to
receive enabling services. However, clients being screened for hemoglobin
variants through local health departments who meet the above criteria must also
meet the financial requirements based on a sliding scale charge schedule. The
amount of the required charge shall be in accordance with the State Board of
Health Regulation Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Health Care
Services to Individuals, 12VAC5-200.
D. Goal. Individuals with the disease of
sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait and other genetically related
hemoglobinopathies will receive early diagnosis and assistance in finding and
accessing health care services.
