BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health has announced that Maryland Medicaid is joining a new federal initiative to improve access to and lower the cost of life-saving cell and gene therapies for sickle cell disease.
By participating in the federal Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model, the state will receive enhanced rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers for high-cost treatments. The Maryland Department of Health estimates the model will save the state more than $1 million per patient.
“Maryland is committed to providing innovative and accessible health solutions designed specifically for our residents,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “By signing on to the CGT Access Model, we are expanding the state’s ability to provide costly, life-saving treatments that will allow Medicaid participants access to the care they need.”
The CGT Access Model is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Under the program, CMS negotiates outcomes-based agreements with drug manufacturers on behalf of participating states. These agreements tie rebates to a therapy’s effectiveness, which helps to mitigate the high upfront cost of a single-dose treatment.
“These therapies mark a turning point in how we treat rare and life-threatening diseases like sickle cell,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Djinge Lindsay. “This Model allows us to provide coverage for groundbreaking treatments based on results—not just costs—so more Marylanders can benefit from real medical breakthroughs.”
While Maryland Medicaid participants can already access these therapies, the state will begin receiving the new rebates and financial protections on Jan. 1, 2026.
Approximately 3,000 Maryland Medicaid participants are living with sickle cell disease, which disproportionately affects Black communities. The two cell and gene therapies available through the model are offered at two authorized treatment centers in the state: the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore City and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
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