Rare Disease Day is observed every year on the last day of February. This day exists to educate people about rare diseases and what we can do to help. Rare diseases affect a small number of people and can be hard to diagnose and treat.
This year, we are joining forces with Accordant, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Health, to support members with the following rare diseases:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD)
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Crohn's disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Epilepsy
- Gaucher disease
- Hemophilia
- Hereditary angioedema
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Inclusion body myositis
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myositis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sickle cell disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Ulcerative colitis
What is “rare”?
In the United States, a disease is “rare” if it affects less than 200,000 people. Since there are over 7,000 of these rare diseases, many people are affected. Getting diagnosed with a rare disease can be slow and difficult. Even doctors might not be able to understand symptoms.
Member support
Rare Disease Day offers hope for members and their families affected by rare diseases. People can share their stories and connect with others facing similar challenges. Working with Accordant, care teams help to:
- Find ways to manage symptoms and side effects
- Support mental and physical health
- Get members support
- Educate members on how to manage health better
As we celebrate this Rare Disease Day, we recognize our members living with rare diseases. By working together, we hope to improve the lives of both members and their families.
Article contributed by Accordant, a subsidiary of CVS Health.
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