Medicaid tries new approach with sickle cell: Companies get paid only if costly gene therapies work

Serenity Cole enjoyed Christmas last month relaxing with her family near her St. Louis home, making crafts and visiting friends.

It was a contrast to how Cole, 18, spent part of the 2024 holiday season. She was in the hospital - a frequent occurrence with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that damages oxygen-carrying red blood cells and for years caused debilitating pain in her arms and legs. Flare-ups often would force her to cancel plans or miss school.