Contact your Pennsylvania State Senator right now and ask for their support of HB 620. The Hemophilia Standards of Care Act. To determine your State Senator, click here.

We now need to begin our efforts in the Pennsylvania Senate for “The Hemophilia Standards of Care Act,” House Bill 620 which passed 197-0 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on August 5, 2009.

We need your help IMMEDIATELY!!

• Please call your member of the Pennsylvania Senate and set up an appointment in the Senator’s local district office IMMEDIATELY.
• When you visit, tell them about your family and your bleeding disorder. Bring pictures of the kids.
• Tell them that HB 620, The Hemophilia Standards of Care Act, passed unanimously in the House on August 5th and is now in the Senate for consideration.
• Tell them that it will come up for consideration in the Senate in the near future and you need their support of this legislation.
• Tell them you will be back to visit again when the time is right, but for now you just want them to be aware that this bill is in the Senate and their support is very important to you. Attempt to get their commitment to support HB 620 when they have a chance to vote on it. IT IS IMPORTANT AFTER YOUR VISIT, TO REPORT BACK TO THE CHAPTER WITH ANY FEEDBACK. WE ARE KEEPING TRACK AT THIS POINT, OF ALL VISITS AND ALL SUPPORT OR NON-SUPPORT.

TO IDENTIFY YOUR PA SENATE MEMBER, GO TO: www.legis.state.pa.us

HB 620 - The Hemophilia Standards of Care Act Summary

Even though a Senate version of the Hemophilia Standards of Care Act (Senate Bill 668, sponsored by Senator Sean Logan) was introduced in the Senate last January, that bill number no longer applies.

What was passed in the PA House of Representatives (HB 620) now actually has to be passed in the Senate. Always refer to it as HB 620 (not SB 668).

HB 620 establishes an essential medical standard of care for citizens of Pennsylvania affected by hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. HB 620 passed unanimously (197-0) in the PA House of Representatives on August 5, 2009. This medical standard of care is in alignment with the Standards of Care for Persons with Hemophilia established by the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) of the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF). MASAC sets the treatment standards in the United States for persons with hemophilia and related bleeding disorders. These patients are medically managed through a network of specialized hemophilia centers across the United States. There are seven state-funded hemophilia programs in Pennsylvania.

Summary of points in HB 620 Patients with bleeding disorders in Pennsylvania must have access to:

• The seven state-funded hemophilia programs
• The coagulation laboratories associated with those programs
• All FDA-approved medicines for the treatment of hemophilia
• Options in pharmacy and home supportive services
• Additionally, HB 620 addresses the need for coagulation testing and expert medical guidance in women with bleeding symptoms prior to a hysterectomy or other surgical procedure.

Call the Chapter office with any questions!!! 215-885-6500