Section 300. Scope and content of the Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program  


Latest version.
  • 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.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77 of the Code of Virginia.