In the absence of specialized SCD clinics with outpatient infusion capabilities, preventable pain crises and other disease-related complications frequently result in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Nationally, these events generate an estimated $2.4 billion in healthcare costs annually. In California, a conservative analysis of Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) data from 2014–2016 found that hospitalizations and emergency room visits for adults with SCD resulted in charges exceeding $226 million. The continued implementation and expansion of California’s regionalized network of care has the potential to significantly reduce healthcare expenditures while substantially improving the quality of life for individuals living with SCD.

Through partnerships with California’s institutions of higher learning and healthcare systems, NCSCC has expanded the healthcare workforce by supporting the development of clinicians with specialized expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of sickle cell disease.

NCSCC and statewide SCD subspecialty consortium collaborate with community-based organizations (CBOs) and operate satellite community programs to address social determinants of health that impact health equity, including transportation barriers, housing instability, language access, and other challenges that limit access to care and innovative therapies. Centers funded through NCSCC, working alongside primary care providers and community organizations, continue to expand the statewide network to serve local communities and surrounding counties based on identified need and population demographics.

NCSCC leadership continues to conduct site visits and assessments to evaluate the clinical expertise, compassionate care, resources, and long-term commitment of participating organizations seeking designation as Centers of Excellence. Simultaneously, NCSCC engages with leadership from Medi-Cal managed care organizations to ensure sustainable reimbursement models and long-term access to high-quality specialty care for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease.

Today, NCSCC serves more than 1,000 patients across California through its network of Centers of Excellence and community partners. The Network has helped strengthen access to specialty care, improve care coordination, expand the healthcare workforce, and support earlier intervention and preventive treatment. These efforts have contributed to measurable improvements in health outcomes, including an increase in life expectancy among Californians living with SCD from approximately 43 years to 54 years.