1. The department shall establish a program for the care and treatment of persons suffering from sickle cell anemia and the identification and counseling of individuals that have sickle cell trait. This program shall assist persons who require continuing treatment to avoid crippling, extensive hospitalization, and other effects associated with this critical blood disease, but who are unable to pay for the entire cost of such services on a continuing basis after payment of claims from various types of hospital and medical insurance coverages, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government assistance programs in existence now or in the future, and private charitable assistance programs.

2. State assistance for care and treatment pursuant to subsection 1 of this section shall be available to an applicant only after he has shown that he has exhausted all benefits from insurance coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government assistance programs, and private and charitable assistance programs.