Defining Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the consequence of homozygosity for a single amino acid change in the beta-globin chain that results in structurally abnormal hemoglobin S, or by compound heterozygosity for hemoglobin S and another β-globin chain abnormality, typically hemoglobin C or beta-0 thalassemia. Hemoglobin SS (HbSS) and HbS beta-0 thalassemia present in a similar clinical manner and are commonly referred to together as sickle cell anemia (SCA), which is the most severe subtype of SCD.
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The sickling process causes secondary changes in cell shape, size, cation and water content, and membrane structure that contribute to the impairment of intrinsic cell deformability.
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Recent regulatory actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pay for hospital care outside of traditional inpatient sites were welcomed by some physician groups.
The policy updates will reimburse hospitals to provide in-home, hospital-level telehealth care for patients with acute conditions and will pay for both inpatient and outpatient care in ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) temporarily designated as hospitals.
The actions allow health systems to safely care for these patients in nontraditional locations, away from patients being treated for COVID-19. The new programs will also conserve critical bed space for COVID-19 patients who need immediate treatment.