Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal program that pays for medical school scholarships or repays educational loans for physicians who agree to work in sickle cell disease research or treatment. Participants would have to complete a residency and a fellowship in hematology, and scholarship recipients would serve one year for each school year funded. The bill would also create grants for community, faith-based, and nonprofit groups and health centers to run sickle cell disease education and advocacy programs. It would fund grants to help sickle cell patients ages 18 to 29 move from pediatric to adult care, with grantees and the Secretary reporting on results. The bill authorizes $150 million, $50 million, and $70 million per year for these three programs for fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Chris Van Hollen Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors