Commissioner King Joins Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Tim Scott in Sickle Cell Roundtable

CHARLESTON, SC – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina in a roundtable discussion about the impacts of sickle cell disease.

Lawmakers, regulators, patient advocates, and private sector entities joined together to discuss sickle cell disease, a type of genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. Symptoms of sickle cell disease include extreme pain, infection, fatigue, sensitivity to heat or cold, and other health issues that may result in hospitalization.

“I want to thank Secretary Kennedy and Senator Scott for joining us at the National Council of Insurance Legislators to discuss how sickle cell disease is affecting thousands of families across our nation,” said Commissioner King. “Hearing stories from patients who long suffered from this disease that are now on the road to recovery thanks to revolutionary cell-based gene therapy is truly inspiring and gives hope to all that are affected by sickle cell. I look forward to working with our public and private partners at every level to improve patient outcomes, decrease costs, and unburden our healthcare system.”

Rare blood diseases like sickle cell often have limited treatment options, resulting in increased hospitalizations and expensive emergency room visits. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has currently approved two cell-based gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease in those 12 years or older.

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The mission of the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is to protect Georgia families by providing access to vital insurance products and safe buildings through fair regulation that creates economic opportunities for all Georgians.