Medicaid Tries New Approach With Sickle Cell: Companies Get Paid Only if Costly Gene Therapies Work By Phil Galewitz January 21, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/sickle-cell-disease-gene-therapy-medicaid-vertex-bluebird-bio/?utm_campaign=KHN%20-%20Weekly%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9KyifCVRjDWjX2_oOx1_hwXng1d1iunqqVhFj-BOA6ohNIb67hW3PPeSUTjv_7bZ7xJ0tVoRqORwa8lotanXUPB59fQQ&_hsmi=400088487&utm_content=400088487&utm_source=hs_email Medicaid Tries New Approach With Sickle Cell: Companies Get Paid Only if Costly Gene Therapies Work By Phil Galewitz The government is using sickle cell treatments to test a new strategy: paying only if the therapies benefit patients. With more expensive treatments on the horizon, the program — created by the Biden administration and continued under Trump — could help Medicaid save money and treat more patients.