MS Activism in Georgia!

Amazing Race host raises $500K for MS, films documentary

2011-04-06T06:51:00.001-07:00

MEET PHIL KOEGHAN, HOST OF THE AMAZING RACE, AT PREMIERE OF HIS NEW DOCUMENTARY, "THE RIDE"

Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race and one of our most committed MS Ambassadors, will be in Atlanta on Wednesday, April 27 at Atlantic Station Regal Cinema on a film tour to bring awareness to MS and help increase participation in Bike MS. In March of 2009, Phil left Los Angeles on his bike for a 40-day ride across America that covered over 3,500 miles. Joining Phil for this grueling journey were his cycling wingman, best friend, a former California Highway Patrol Officer and his father. Together they faced everything from sand storms and freezing temperatures to illness and injury. In just 40 days he raised $500,000 and unprecedented exposure for the National MS Society.

Come meet Phil and See "The Ride‟! Thanks to Regal Cinemas' generous support - all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the National MS Society. Only 350 seats available – Purchase yours today!Regal Atlantic Station Stadium 16 & IMAXWednesday, April 27 - 7:00pmClick Here to View the Trailer & Purchase Tickets

Professional athlete with MS finds a way to cope

2011-04-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Major League Soccer star Demitrius Omphroy was diagnosed with MS in 2010, when he was just 20 years old. Read about his story, and how he finds a way to keep playing, in the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/sports/soccer/29goal.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=multiple%20sclerosis&st=cse

Thank you Representatives!

2011-03-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, the National MS Society named three federal legislators as Representatives and Senator of the Year, recognizing their hard work to fight for the rights of citizens with multiple sclerosis. Reps. Mac Thornberry and James Langevin, as well as Senator Robert Casey, Jr. have dedicated much of their time in Washington DC to advocate for patients' rights. We'd like to thank them, as well as our state representatives, for promoting the cause of the National MS Society! http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=4811

Research leads and updates

2011-03-23T08:36:00.001-07:00

In the Spring 2011 issue of Momentum, the Research Now section provides some great information on the research that the National MS Society is supporting and funding.

--Studies are currently going on to determine how and why MS progresses in such different forms. Three different research teams are looking at the causes of MS progression, which will help us find ways to slow it down and eventually find a cure.
--Biomarkers are important in learning about disease course. As we all know, MS can be a tricky and uncertain disease. According to MedicineNet.com, a biomarker is a biochemical feature or facet that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment. Currently, researchers are looking for biomarkers that can help track the path of MS and lead to more research in finding a cure.
--Finally, ResarchNow provides an overview of what the research efforts of the National MS Society. Please click on http://www.nationalmssociety.org/research/research-news/research-now/index.aspx for more information and ways to get involved!

Georgia Legislation Update

2011-03-22T08:27:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, now that we have cleared Crossover Day, I wanted to take this opportunity to post an update on some of the key pieces of legislation we have been monitoring here at the Society.

HB 47 – This bill would allow Georgia residents to purchase health insurance policies for sale in other states and would increase insurance options available to citizens in the state of Georgia. Current Status – 3/11/11 Senate Read and Referred

HB 167 - This bill includes a prompt pay provision, which would force third party administrators to pay service claims within 15 days for electronic submission and within 30 days for paper submissions. This will streamline the payment process, which will save money for the citizens of Georgia and create a friendlier business environment for physicians practicing in Georgia. Current Status - 3/16/11 Senate Read and Referred

HB 432- This bill would allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members. Employers, classrooms and workplaces all benefit when working family members are able to keep sick children at home and ensure that ill family members get the care they need. Current Status - 3/03/2011 House Second Readers

HB 476 – This bill would establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority to comply with federal health care regulations and create the Georgia Health Exchange and the Small Business Health Options Program Exchange. Current Status – 3/16/11 House Withdrawn, Recommitted

It's MS Awareness Week!

2011-03-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

March 14th-18th is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week (nationwide!)

Here in Georgia, there are tons of different ways to get inolved to show your support and let us know what MS= to you! Go to http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/gaa/ms-awareness-week/index.aspx to learn more!

If you're hungry this week, go to a local California Pizza Kitchen. If you present them with our flyer, they will donate 20% of your order total to the Society. Good at all Atlanta area locations. Please see the website for more information.

WalkMS begins this Saturday, March 19th, in Albany, Columbus, and Augusta. Are you signed up for your walk yet? Go to www.walkmsgeorgia.org to participate!

Coping with MS

2011-02-28T07:22:00.000-08:00

Here are two links to help deal with the daily stress of MS and other diseases:

Living in the shadow of illness
Philosopher Havi Carel explains how her own illness emphasised the social taboo surrounding disease and death. She feels it is still possible to lead a good life while ill and that discussion of the topic should be part of our mainstream culture
http://www.thersa.org/fellowship/journal/archive/autumn-update-2008/features/living-in-the-shadow-of-illness

Smile or Die
Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo&feature=channel

For MS Patients, Memory Melts in Warm Weather

2011-02-22T09:35:00.001-08:00

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/0218/memory-melts-in-warm-weather.aspx

Researchers Find Reduced Levels Of An Important Neurotransmitter In MS

2011-02-17T08:14:00.001-08:00

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216356.php

New study information links Vitamin D to MS symptoms

2011-02-14T09:55:00.001-08:00

Here's a new article with updated information about Vitamin D and MS symptoms:

http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20110207/sun-exposure-vitamin-d-may-lower-ms-risk

Help for MS in Atlanta

2011-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

Atlanta is home to three exceptional research centers and clinics working hard to end the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis. Below is a short profile on each center and contact information for them!

The MS Center of Atlanta is a non-profit organization that provides health treatment services to those diagnosed with MS. They provide comprehensive services ranging from clinical care, infusion therapy, neuropsychology and hospital services! They created a list of “10 Rules of MS Care” which includes rule 7- Living with MS: "Accept, Take Control, and Move On!"
They are located at
The Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta, The Palisades Building3200 Downwood Circle, Suite 550Atlanta, Georgia 30327See http://mscatl.org/default.aspx for more information!

The Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at Shepherd is another great Atlanta-area resource for people diagnosed with MS. They offer a wide variety of treatments for patients, including aquatics classes, MRIs, vocational counseling and comprehensive pain management, along with a wide variety of other services. They also have opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research trials and help find a cure for MS. For more information, please see http://www.shepherd.org/patient-care/multiple-sclerosis.

Emory University healthcare established the Emory MS Clinic in 2008. Directed by Drs. Neil Lava and William Tyor, the clinic offers a full range of treatments staffed by members of the Department of Neurology. Physical therapy, neuro-ophthamology and clinical trials are all part of the services offered by the Clinic. If you are a veteran who has been diagnosed with MS, the Emory clinic works closely with the Atlanta VA to give veterans access to the same treatment as other patients. Go to http://www.neurology.emory.edu/Programs/ProgramsMultipleSclerosis.htm for more information on the Emory MS clinic.

For patients not living it Atlanta, there is also a MS treatment center in Augusta! The Augusta MS Center is part of Medical College of Georgia, and offers a broad range of treatment and care for patients with MS. In addition to offering drug therapy and nutritional counseling, they also have access to clinical trials, housing options, outpatient rehabilitation as well as an emphasis on patient family centered care. They also have a spasticity management clinic that tries to help control symptoms of spasticity. Please see their website at http://www.mcghealth.org/neuroscience-center/McgContentPage.aspx?nd=496.

How Do You Manage Your MS Symptoms

2011-02-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all, here is a link to a discussion another blog has started asking people to post their traditional and non-traditional methods for dealing with their MS symptoms. Please peruse it for your own education or post your own remedies to help educate others. http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/trevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms/how-do-you-manage-your-ms-symptoms/

BikeMS: Will you join the movement?

2011-02-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Bike MS is one the Society’s most important events. Every year there are 100 rides that take place during the year across the nation. Even better, there are rides in almost every state so participating is easy! Here are some fun facts and tips for those looking to get involved in Bike MS in 2011:

There are rides in almost every state, including Alaska!
More than seven states have four or more rides, including Texas, Virginia, New York and Missouri.
Looking to vacation and get involved? There are two rides in Hawaii, and other rides in Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Las Vegas! Have some fun and help raise awareness for MS at the same time. North Carolina’s signature two day ride “Breakaway to the Beach” starts in Charlotte, NC and ends at Sunset Beach, NC, perfect to stay and relax for a few days after the ride! To learn more, see http://www.nationalmssociety.org/raceMap.aspx.
Looking for some downtime after a long day of riding? Two rides feature biking and wine tasting in the same day! California’s “Waves to Wine” starts in San Francisco and ends in Sonoma County, with a wine and beer garden included in some of the festivities for the ride. North Carolina’s one day ride, “Gears and Cheers” has bikers ride through Grove Winery in Gibsonville, NC. At the end of the event, riders have the option to participate in some of the winery’s celebrations.
Here are the rides with the most creative and interesting names:
--Texas: Cactus and Crude Ride (July 16th-17th)
--Tennessee: Jack Daniel’s Bike to Jack and Back, featuring a tour of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery (October 1st-2nd)
--South Dakota: Pedal the Plains (August 6th-7th)
--Rhode Island: Ride the Rhode (June 25th-26th)
--Iowa: Cruise the Cornfields (June 25th-26th)
--Idaho: Road, Sweat and Gears (July 23rd-24th)
In Georgia, there are two rides! The second annual Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens Ride will take place May 21st and 22nd, starting at Turner Field and ending in Athens. The 25th anniversary of our Cox Atlanta ride will take place on September 17th and 18th. Special registration promotions are happening now! To register, go to www.bikemsgeorgia.org

Don’t forget: even if you can’t ride, you can still help spread awareness! Consider being a volunteer for one of the Bike MS events in your area!

Hi Everyone

2011-02-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, my name is Todd Dupree and I'm one of the new interns here at the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I've been a resident of Georgia my entire life, with the bulk of my time spent south of the Macon-Dixon line in Homerville, GA. Homerville is a one red-light town in the middle of Clinch County, so even though I've been living in Atlanta for the past year and a half, I'm still very much adjusting.
Currently, I have an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia Military College and I'm in the process of wrapping up the last semester I require, to obtain my Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Clayton State University. Once my time at Clayton State is complete, I hope to continue my education at one of our nation's fine law schools. Which one is as of yet undetermined, but that will hopefully be resolved over the next few weeks.
Also, I've been an Intelligence Analyst in the Army Reserves since March of 2007, and am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Though I recently transitioned into the IRR, my time in the service was great. While serving, I was even lucky enough to meet the woman who is now my wife. She will also be transitioning into the IRR in March, and though we both loved having the opportunity to serve the greatest nation in the world, we are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives.
As to where my interests in advocacy originated, that can easily be traced to my brother's ATV accident in 2007. He was left needing substantial long term medical care, and my parents were left with the unexpected weight of providing for those needs. This was only exasperated by the fact that they now had to become experts in health insurance policies to ease some of this burden, a task made no easier by the convoluted language most policies are comprised of. After seeing them struggle through this, I resolved that this is an issue that we should all be able to get behind. While the abysmal state of our economy may prevent us from achieving some of the more robust health care goals, policy simplification is an end that can be pursued in any fiscal situation.

National MS Society supports Medicare class action lawsuit

2011-01-31T07:54:00.000-08:00

The following article was published on TheHill.com on January 18, 2011. To read a copy of the lawsuit, please click on the link: http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/medicarecomplaint.pdf

Patient advocates launch Medicare class action lawsuit

By Julian Pecquet - 01/18/11 01:30 PM ET

A Medicare rights group filed a class action lawsuit against the federal government on Tuesday that could affect many thousands of Americans seniors.
The suit seeks to require Medicare to cover certain types of rehabilitative care even when it likely won't lead to an "improvement" in patients' condition.
"This has been the main barrier keeping people from getting the care and services they need," said Judith Stein of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which filed the lawsuit in United States District Court in Burlington, Vt.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of four individuals from Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine and five organizations. These include the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Parkinson's Action Network; Paralyzed Veterans of America; and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Plaintiffs say almost 78 percent of the 46 million or so Medicare beneficiaries have at least one chronic condition, such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's. Denying them care if they don't meet the so-called "Improvement Standard," the advocates argue, can prevent them from performing routine daily activities or even cause their condition to deteriorate - leading to higher costs down the road.
Last May, 17 Democratic lawmakers led by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) wrote a letter to the Medicare agency arguing that the improvement standard is illegal and urging the agency to clarify its reimbursement policies. The agency's claims are processed by private subcontractors, many of whom require improvements in patient conditions and deny coverage to thousands of people every year as a result.
"Medicare coverage determinations should not be based on whether the patient's underlying condition is likely to improve," the lawmakers wrote. "In fact, federal regulation actually states the opposite."
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officially agrees that coverage approval, generally speaking, should depend on a service being reasonable and medically necessary. In the case of therapy services, that means that the individual needs the type of services that require the assistance of or supervision by a skilled professional.
"We have not yet had a chance to review the complaint, and therefore are not in a position to comment on the lawsuit," said a CMS spokesperson.
This fall two federal courts, in Pennsylvania and Vermont, ruled that beneficiaries don't have to meet the improvement standard in order to qualify for skilled nursing care and home health services. The rulings in those lawsuits, however, only applied to the individuals who brought them and not to all beneficiaries.
The new lawsuit seeks to have the court certify a national class, which would make its ruling mandatory with regards to people in similar circumstances. The administration has 60 days to respond.
Stein's group launched an advocacy and education campaign on the issue in October 2009 but held off on a class action suit until now because it was trying to work with the Obama administration to resolve the issue. The administration has been receptive to beneficiaries' concerns, Stein told The Hill - she said federal regulators this fall "dramatically improved" proposed regulations regarding home care therapy services - but has not gone far enough.
"We need the policies at all levels cleared up," Stein said. "It's not resolved sufficiently, and people are injured all the time."

Fun Fact Friday!

2011-01-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here at the National MS Society: GA Chapter, we’re starting a new tradition. We’re calling it “Fun Fact Friday,” providing readers with some interesting facts about Multiple Sclerosis, tidbits about new books and articles, and places to go for more information.

Although celebrities and policy makers always seem so removed from the public and somewhat invincible at time, they’re also affected by the disease we’re working to cure.

Did you know that Annette Funicello, one of the original Disney Mouseketeers, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1987? Announcing her diagnosis in 1992, Funicello then created the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases. For more information, please see http://www.calfund.org/give/giving_funicello.php.

Talk show host, Montel Williams, is one of the most well-known celebrities suffering from MS. He was diagnosed in the 1990s, and now works to raise money and awareness for MS research. He created the Montel Williams MS Foundation in 2000 to aid MS research nationally. You can learn more at http://www.montelms.org/.

MS doesn’t just affect patients; it affects their entire families as well. British author JK Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series, donated $15.4 million to a Scottish university to establish a Multiple Sclerosis research center in honor of her mother who died from MS complications. To read more, click on the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/31/jk-rowling-donation-multiple-sclerosis

First Lady Michelle Obama has publicly discussed her father’s battle with multiple sclerosis, and the current Chief Operating Officer of Apple, Tim Cook, has a personal history with MS. After being misdiagnosed with the disease in 1996, he is now an avid fundraiser and frequently participates in bike rides to raise money and awareness. Click on the following links to learn more about their experiences:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-democrati_n_121310.html
and
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/why-apple-is-in-safe-hands-with-tim-cook-501288

Hi all!

2011-01-19T07:28:00.001-08:00

My name is Melissa Catania and I’m one of the newest interns in the Public Policy and Advocacy department here at the Georgia Chapter! I’m very excited to be here this spring and I look forward to jumping into all the work that is going on at the Chapter.

I am currently a senior at Emory University studying Psychology and Political Science. I’ve been interested in the mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since I was a girl. My aunt was diagnosed with MS at age 35 and I watched her go through the ups and downs of her disease for many years. I can still remember going around my neighborhood and finding sponsors for Walk MS when I was eight years old. Completing the Walk that year was one of the best times I had with my aunt. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2001, but I have always kept tabs on the Society and what was going on in the world of MS research and advocacy.

As I got older, I grew interested in public policy and government relations. Most of my coursework for school focuses on domestic politics, and studying psychology has helped me understand human behavior and what it is like to be affected by a chronic illness. Eventually, I hope obtain my master’s degree in Social Work and Public Policy, bringing these two different worlds together. After volunteering here at the Georgia Chapter my freshman year of college, I knew that there was a lot of great work to be done, and so I am very excited to be a part of the team. I look forward to meeting clients with MS, learning their stories, and interacting with policy makers whose constituents are affected by this debilitating disease. I firmly believe that an individual can make a difference if they are given the right tools and information. Working with Kyle and Todd (my fellow intern), I hope to provide people, clients and policy makes alike, with this information!

CoInsurance Costs and you!

2010-12-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

The Georgia Chapter is considering potential solutions towards the rising cost of medicine and the incredible costs that MS patients pay for their needed therapies. Did you know that the average MS patient's disease modifying therapies cost somewhere between 8-12,000 dollars per year?

Often someone living with MS has this cost-burden placed on them through a practice called drug tiering, which leads to high co-insurance costs.

A good overview of this issue can be found here: http://patients.about.com/od/drugsandsafety/a/formulary.htm

Have you been affected by this issue? Have you had to stop taking your prescribed therapy because of its cost? Have you had to face medical bankruptcy? Please share your story with us at Kyle.Pinion@nmssga.org
and help us make a difference related to the rising costs of these needed therapies on those living with MS.

Elections have come and gone...

2010-11-03T13:15:00.001-07:00

We'd like to wish a very sincere congratulations to all winning candidates, including Governor-Elect Nathan Deal, Congressman-Elect Austin Scott, and Insurance Commissioner-Elect Ralph Hudgens, amongst others who have been elected or re-elected to office.

Please visit www.sos.ga.gov for a complete list of results from yesterday's vote.

Insurance Commissioner Voter Guide

2010-10-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

We're incredibly excited to be a part of the release of the following voter guide for the 2010 Insurance Commissioner race in the state of Georgia. We join Georgians for a Healthy Future, Voices for Georgia's Children, and The American Diabetes Association in inviting you to read the responses of all three Insurance Commissioner candidates about issues related to the future of health insurance in the state of Georgia.

Please click here to access the voter guide.

Please click here to read a detailed press release.

Six month provisions of Affordable Care Act begin today!

2010-09-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 23rd marks the six month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As such, it also signals the start date of many new insurance reforms designed to protect consumers covered through private (employer‐based and individually‐purchased) health plans, where over 50% of all Americans living with MS receive their health insurance coverage. Many MS Activists worked hard to pass these provisions into law and the new changes are expected to have a positive impact in the MS community.

Below are just some of the provisions that will go into effect for health insurance this week:

• Ending Insurance Rescissions. Under the Affordable Care Act, an insurance plan will be
able to rescind a health plan only for non‐payment or if the enrollee commits fraud. This
means that insurance plans will no longer be able cancel coverage if a technical or minor
error was made on an application.

• Ensuring Benefits for Patients. Patients will be able to get the care they need without
lifetime limits capping their insurance benefits. Additionally, the elimination of annual
dollar limits will happen gradually, starting on Sept. 23, and will be completely prohibited
in 2014. In many plans, patients will have access to preventive services without cost
sharing, and new rights to appeal decisions by their insurer if covered benefits are denied
or limited.

• Coverage for Kids and Young Adults. As health plans begin their new ‘plan year’ on or
after September 23, 2010, they will be prohibited from excluding children up to age 19 due
to a pre‐existing condition. Additionally, if an insurance plan covers dependents, it will
have to cover most young adults up to age 26.

While there are still a number years before 2014, when the majority of the Affordable Care Act’ provisions take effect, these early provisions provide additional protection for patients and improve the accessibility of affordable, quality health insurance for many people living with MS.

To learn more about the new provisions, visit the new HealthCare.gov website.

Top Tweets of the Week

2010-07-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Every week, we’ll bring you the most informative, interesting, and important tweets dealing with MS, health care, events, and anything else we think would be useful. And make sure to follow us on Twitter: @takeactionforMS.

Thursday

A brief look at the most pressing federal issue we’ve been fighting for:
@HealthyFutureGA: Governor's Make the Case for Help with FMAP: http://bit.ly/bQBBaC

A discussion worth checking out:
@greaterdelms: Interesting discussion of MS and dental work: http://bit.ly/cuK9aE

Congratulations to the Shepherd Center!
@ShepherdCenter: Shepherd ranks among top 10 U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 America’s Best Hospitals: http://tinyurl.com/28a6qpl

Wednesday

A great resource for information about health care reform:
@HealthReformNow: RT @HealthCareGov Learn abt the new rules that help make wellness & prevention services affordable & accessible to you http://bit.ly/9x2ix9

Tuesday

It bears repeating:
@USAgov: Need health insurance? Find the best options for you at http://finder.healthcare.gov/

Legislator Spotlight: Representative Virgil Fludd

2010-07-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday we’re turning the spotlight on Representative Virgil Fludd of the 66th district which includes parts of Fayette and Fulton counties. Representative Fludd has served in the State House for four terms and has accomplished an incredible amount during that time. Not only has he received awards from numerous organizations (including Georgia Equality, AARP, Georgia Association of Educators, and many others) but has authored or co-authored over 100 bills.

Before entering into politics, Rep. Fludd was a businessman. He is still the President and CEO of the Carvir Group which is a corporate consulting firm that provides services to companies across the country. He has also worked for Xerox and as a Vice President and Sales Manager for Bank of America.

Currently he serves on the following committees:

Banks and Banking
Regulated Industries
Small Business Development and Job Creation
Ways and Means

This past legislative session, Rep. Fludd authored and championed HB 985 which was the MS Research Fund Tax Check-Off. This bill (which was vetoed by the Governor) would have given people the option to give money to a new MS Research Fund through their income tax. This would have opened up a new avenue of research funding for the state of Georgia.

Rep. Fludd has been a wonderful friend to the MS community through this bill and many others. He is truly a great Representative: devoted to his constituents, the state of Georgia, and the United States. We thank him for his continued support of and dedication to people living with MS.

Take a Look at New Laws That Went Into Effect Yesterday!

2010-07-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

There are a couple laws that went into effect yesterday which will greatly benefit the MS community. Here is a brief summary of those laws as well as two other laws which had either already gone into effect or will in the near future.

HB 866 – Rural Area Physicians Act, went into effect yesterday, July 1

This law will increase the number of physicians in rural areas which will improve the level of care for people living in those areas. The Act provides for new grants to hospitals and other health care entities, local governments, and civic organizations. In addition, it will increase the number of physicians who are eligible for financial assistance who practice in rural areas. This will improve recruitment and bring much needed physicians to these underserved areas.

HB 1040 – Amendment to the Nurse Practice Act, went into effect yesterday, July 1

The amendment alters the Georgia Nurse Practice Act to allow for unlicensed caretakers who are trained by a Registered Nurse to provide the specific life-maintenance activities as listed within the bill (assistance with medication, tube feedings, assistance with catheter care, etc.) to patients when prescribed by a physician. This will significantly decrease the cost of home health care for individuals, allowing both they and their families another affordable option for long term care. Most importantly, it opens the doorway for more people with chronic illnesses and disabilities to stay in the community.

SB 316 – Medicare Supplement for Medicare Beneficiaries, effective November 1, 2010

This is a fairly straightforward piece of legislation but will have a huge impact. It will require Medicare supplemental insurance providers to offer supplemental insurance policies to individuals under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability. This will provide people who are eligible a new option for coverage and will benefit many people with MS.

HB 277 – 2020 Georgia Transportation Act, went into effect upon signing

The 2020 Georgia Transportation Act divides Georgia into 12 transportation regions. Each region will have an established transportation board made up of local elected officials including the mayors of each city and town and the county commissioners of each county in each region to draw up a list of projects for the counties within the regions. The bill will also allow for citizen review panels which will provide advisory opinions upon these list of projects before a referendum will be taken within the region, allowing citizens the opportunity to vote on a 1% sales tax that would then fund these transportation projects if affirmed. This allows for local control over the issue of transportation while expanding rural investment in needed human services. This bill also loosens the cap on MARTA's local 50-50 funding, by allowing MARTA to utilize the entire tax fund for three years on operational costs. This would lessen what would have been a major blow to accessible transportation in metro Atlanta.

Health Care Website is Live Today!

2010-07-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

www.healthcare.gov is officially live! It will be an incredible resource for you on health reform. It will show you what avenues are available to get coverage for you in your own personal situation. It will also show you how to go about signing up for the high risk insurance pool among many other things.

Be sure to check it out!

Legislator Spotlight: Senator Jeff Mullis

2010-06-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today we’re recognizing Senator Jeff Mullis of the 53rd district which is comprised of Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and part of Catoosa counties. He was elected to the state senate in 2000 and in just ten years has had an incredible impact and received numerous awards.

He currently serves on the following committees: transportation (chairman), appropriations, assignments, banking and financial institutions (ex-officio), economic development, public safety (ex-officio), rules, and state and local governmental operations (ex-officio).

Senator Mullis was essential to the passage of HB 277 this past year, which was one of the major legislative issues for the National MS Society. Senator Mullis himself explained the bill and its importance in a press release from the Senate Press Office which I’ll post here:

The 2010 Legislative Session was one of the toughest in Georgia history. In January, we faced the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, complete with plummeting state revenues and rising jobless rates. In the end, the Republican-lead legislature delivered a balanced budget, significant tax cuts, and a more streamlined state government. We also accomplished that which few thought we could – a transportation funding package that will set Georgia on the right track for stability and economic recovery.

Fixing the complex transportation problems in Georgia required two strategic aspects; a structure to manage and handle funding appropriately and a funding mechanism. Last year we passed a transportation governance package (SB 200). This year, the General Assembly came together with the governor’s office to agree on the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (HB 277). This is a comprehensive package that includes voter approval on regional projects, funding those projects, and proper checks and balances for use of taxpayer dollars. Transparency and accountability is of utmost importance when you trust us with your money.

If approved by the voters in a referendum, this legislation provides for a 1 percent regional transportation sales and use tax to be imposed for a period of ten years in 12 newly created special districts, the geographical boundary of each corresponds with and is coterminous with the geographical boundary of the 12 regional commissions. Any good plan must include preparations to receive these funds should you, the voters, approve it. Therefore, this legislation is a three-phase plan so we can complete transportation project efficiently, effectively and with transparency.

First is the criteria phase. During this time, local governments and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) will have the opportunity to review project assessment criteria from the Statewide Strategic Transportation plan and provide feedback to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) on those criteria for their region. Regional Roundtables will be established and consist of two representatives from each county, including the chairperson, sole commissioner, mayor, or chief executive officer of the county and one mayor elected by the mayors of the county. An executive committee will also be elected by the Regional Roundtables to consult with GDOT and help create the draft list of projects for each region. Legislators felt that citizen participation should be more than just a vote on a referendum. You should be involved in every aspect of project development and investment. This is why the bill also includes establishment of a Citizen Review Panel for each region. The Panel must meet in regular session at least three days each year either at the Capitol in Atlanta or at another meeting place within the state. The Panel is charged with reviewing the administration of the projects and programs on the approved investment list. Upon the completion of a project on the investment list, the Panel must annually review the specific public benefits identified in the investment list to ascertain the degree to which such benefits have been attained. This benefit review report must be delivered to the Director and the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue and must be published on the new website. Each of these committees and panels provide significant oversight to a system that desperately needed it.

Stage two is where elected officials, local governments and regions really begin to roll up our sleeves. Local Governments and MPOs receive comments from members of the General Assembly within their districts and then submit project requests to the GDOT Director of Planning. The Director of Planning will use the districts’ investment criteria to assess projects, assemble a “list of example investments,” and deliver it to each executive committee. Executive Committees consult with the DP and choose from the “list of example investments” to create a “draft investment list” for consideration by the full Regional Transportation Roundtable. When the list of project is finalized, it is ready for your approval via referendum.

Stage three is all up to you, the voter. Throughout the criteria and project list stages, General Assembly members and local governments have worked to achieve your input. Now you’ll be presented with the outcome of that input and collaboration for your final approval by your vote. Since this process will take some time, everything must be ready for voter approval for the November 2012 statewide elections.

This bill does much more than transportation funding for projects. Provisions were also made for transit and MARTA, two key elements to a successfully functioning statewide transportation system. The bill creates a standing Georgia Coordinating Committee for Rural and Human Services Transportation to encourage efficient delivery of rural transit and statewide human services transportation programs. It also creates a Transit Governance Study Commission to examine the feasibility of combining all of the metro Atlanta regional public transportation entities into an integrated regional transit body. Funding for rural transportation assistance goes through a tangled web of bureaucratic services, leading to confusion, inefficiencies and ultimately lack of good service. This will provide for better and more efficient transportation services for rural citizens, the elderly and disabled.

MARTA needed great flexibility to use operational funds in order to keep transit moving in Georgia. The Transportation Investment Act suspends the 50/50 restriction on MARTA’s expenditures for a 3-year period (restricted from use on salary and wage increases). It also reforms the MARTA Board, reducing it from 18 members to 11 members, by removing three state appointees and appointees from counties that do not levy a sales tax to fund the system. By reducing the size of the Board, we will achieve greater efficiency of funds and quicker decision making. The new board will consist of three residents of the City of Atlanta, four residents of DeKalb County, three residents of Fulton County and the GDOT Commissioner. GRTA’s Executive Director is a non-voting member. In addition, the bill authorizes Clayton County to hold a referendum on the question of levying a one-percent sales tax to join MARTA and thereby restore C-Tran service.

This is a practical step toward economic growth which makes Georgia more attractive to potential businesses and residents. Investing in our infrastructure and freight corridors will help us move Georgia products, as well as goods and services, through our state. This is a big first step toward reducing the congestion and gridlock that prevents Georgians from easily getting to their jobs and families. The Transportation Investment Act is a comprehensive funding delivery system that coupled with the new governance package will get Georgia moving forward and is truly a transportation triumph for all of Georgia.

I am honored to serve and represent the citizens of Northwest Georgia and the entire state as the Senate Transportation Chairman. I am working diligently to move Georgia forward for the citizens of this great state with an improved plan of economic development and transportation. As I work for you, please continue to contact me with your thoughts.

Senator Mullis is one of the most dedicated proponents of transportation reform and demonstrated that commitment through his work on HB 277. For that and his decade of service, we thank Senator Mullis.

Covering Health Care - Q&A

2010-06-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Every week we’ll be diving into the many various aspects of the new health care reform law. We’ll be looking into everything from insurance reform to Medicaid expansion and a host of other topics. The series will be updated three times per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you have any questions or comments, email me at kayla.whaley@nmssga.org and I’ll answer them Friday.

Today we’re answering a few questions. Here we go!

"Does this bill affect TRICARE coverage? My child is about to be 21 and usually that means she would no longer be covered by my plan, has that changed?" – Annonymous

Unfortunately, no, TRICARE is not affected by the law in any way. That means that the rules for dependents are the same as they have been: dependents will not be covered after age 21 or 23 if he/she is enrolled in an institution of higher learning full-time. There is currently legislation going through Congress that would change TRICARE to allow dependents to stay covered until 26, just like the health care law. This may take quite a while to make it through the process and into law and even then it may take time before it is implemented. Here’s an article which goes into more detail on the issue.

"I recently lost my insurance coverage due to job separation and can't afford COBRA, is this bill actually going to help me?...I have MS!" - Richard, East Dublin, GA

Maybe. Without knowing your entire situation, I can’t say for sure.

First of all, since you do have MS, you may be eligible for the high-risk pool in Georgia which will go into effect next week. If you qualify for the pool, your out-of-pocket costs would be limited to no more than $5950 for an individual and double that for a family. The one eligibility requirement which might be an issue depending on your particular situation is that you must have been uninsured for 6 months before qualifying. If you meet the eligibility requirements, this is likely to be your best option since the other possibilities (like Medicaid expansion and the insurance exchanges) won’t go into effect for a few years.

There is another option that may apply to you which was actually a part of the stimulus law, not the health reform law. Basically, if you were laid off between September 2008 and March 2010, you could be eligible for a 65% premium subsidy for COBRA for up to 15 months. There’s also legislation currently in Congress which would extend that date range through April 2010.

Covering Health Care - Medicare Part 2

2010-06-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Legislator Spotlight: Representative Jimmy Pruett

2010-06-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today we’re recognizing State Representative Jimmy Pruett, particularly for his work on HB 1040. Representative Pruett serves the 144th district, which includes Wilcox, Dodge, and Bleckley counties as well as parts of Pulaski and Ben Hill counties. He has been a member of the House since 2007 and before that was a businessman.

He currently serves on the following committees:

Appropriations
Children and Youth
Economic Development and Tourism
Industrial Relations

As mentioned, we want to recognize Representative Pruett’s work on HB 1040, an amendment to the Nurse Practice Act. This legislation (which the Governor has signed into law) was authored by Representative Pruett. It amends the Nurse Practice Act to allow an unlicensed person to provide Health Maintenance Activities to a specific patient. The law requires an RN to train the unlicensed person in the skills necessary for the particular task and that the services are ordered by a doctor. Before, only trained nurses or family members could administer these services which include medication administration, catheter irrigation, trach/vent care, feeding tubes, etc.

This change will give many people with disabilities the ability to remain in their homes by reducing the cost of care. That means retaining independence longer. It may also have the effect of increasing the number of nurses in the state if these unlicensed individuals decide to become licensed nurses themselves. It will also drive down costs for Medicaid and private payers.

Representative Pruett’s work on HB 1040 means that many more individuals will have access to affordable care and will therefore be able to continue living in their own homes. We thank Representative Pruett for his continued service and dedication.

Covering Health Care - Medicare Part 1

2010-06-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Every week we’ll be diving into the many various aspects of the new health care reform law. We’ll be looking into everything from insurance reform to Medicaid expansion and a host of other topics. The series will be updated three times per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you have any questions or comments, email me at kayla.whaley@nmssga.org and I’ll answer them Friday.

Last week we covered changes to Medicaid in the health care law. This week we’ll be looking at Medicare. As always, here’s the link to the text for your perusal and please feel free to send any questions you have to kayla.whaley@nmssga.org.

Perhaps the most talked about change to Medicare is the closing of the Medicare Part D drug benefit coverage gap, or the “doughnut hole.” Currently, until Part D enrollees qualify for catastrophic coverage, they are required to pay 100% of the cost of their drugs. The new law will work toward closing that gap.

This will be a phased process rather than immediately dropping down to the percentage it will eventually reach. The first part of that process starts this year with $250 rebate checks being sent to any Part D enrollees who fall into the gap (SEC 3315). Next year, 2011, enrollees will get a 50% discount on brand-name drugs (SEC 3301). Also in 2011, the actual phasing to close the gap begins with generic drugs and in 2013 will begin to include brand-name drugs too. By 2020, enrollees will only be required to pay 25% of the cost of their drugs rather than the full cost (SEC 3301).

This is going to help an immense number of people. And even though the full process won’t be done until 2020, people will start seeing benefits this year and will continue to see benefits each year after that.

The other change to the doughnut hole is that the catastrophic coverage threshold will be reduced between 2014 and 2019 (SEC 3301).

The emphasis on preventive care that we’ve seen throughout the law is present in Medicare changes too. Beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will cover personalized prevention plan services (SEC 4103). That basically means an annual health risk assessment as well as services such as updating the individual’s medical and family history, routine measurements (height, weight, blood pressure, etc.), detecting any cognitive impairments, etc.

The last thing I’ll mention briefly today has to do with income-related premiums. The law will freeze the income thresholds for income-related Part B and Part D premiums at 2010 levels (SEC 3402). This will begin in 2011 and will last through 2019. Those levels are $85,000 for an individual and $170,000 for a couple. It also establishes a new income-related Part D premium (SEC 3308). Beginning in 2011, Part D enrollees who make more than the 2010 levels I listed before will be required to pay a higher income-related Part D premium.

That’s it for today, but I’ll be back on Thursday to continue talking about Medicare!

Covering Health Care - Medicaid Part 2

2010-06-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Every week we’ll be diving into the many various aspects of the new health care reform law. We’ll be looking into everything from insurance reform to Medicaid expansion and a host of other topics. The series will be updated three times per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you have any questions or comments, email me at kayla.whaley@nmssga.org and I’ll answer them Friday.

Sorry this is a day late! Also, this article is going to be in lieu of a Q&A this week. Here’s the link to the text of the bill and like on Tuesday, it’s not exactly light reading, but please feel free to read it!

Tuesday we talked about Medicaid expansion. Today we’re going to begin by talking about how that expansion will be funded (Sec. 2001). Contrary to what many people believe, the states will not be responsible for funding the expansion in Medicaid. In fact, the federal government will cover 100% of the cost for newly eligible individuals from 2014-2016. After that, the federal government will cover 95% for 2017, 94% for 2018, 93% for 2019, and 90% from 2020 on. This means that not only will the state budgets be adversely affected, but in many cases this will reduce Medicaid costs in the short-run as well as in the long-run.

Another way the law will help save the states money is through the change in prescription drug rebates (Sec. 2501). Currently, drug manufacturers must provide a 15.1% rebate to each state. The new law increases that rebate to 23.1% for most brand name drugs.

I also want to mention the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and changes there (Sec. 2101). Any children who are currently covered by CHIP that are in the 100-133% federal poverty level range will be transitioned into Medicaid. The law also provides continued funding for CHIP through 2015 which is two years longer than before this law was passed. Also, states must keep the same eligibility requirements for children in CHIP through 2019.

Finally, like I said on Tuesday, I’ll very briefly mention those who are dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare (Sec. 2602). Nothing as far as coverage will change for dual eligible people. Medicaid will still help cover gaps in coverage in Medicare, help with premiums, etc. What will change is that the process will be streamlined. The law establishes a Federal Coordinated Health Care Office which will allow for communication and hopefully easier implementation of benefits.

That’s it for today. Make sure to check back next week!

Legislator Spotlight: State Senator Seay and U.S. Senator Isakson

2010-06-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

This week we’re recognizing the two legislators who will receive awards for their service this Saturday at The Political Side of MS, an annual event organized by the National MS Society. They come from different backgrounds (Senator Seay worked for 22 years in banking; Senator Isakson for 20 years in real estate) but since coming into politics have both served the state of Georgia proudly.

State Senator Valencia Seay represents District 34 which contains parts of both Clayton and Fayette counties. She was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2003. Before that she served in the Georgia House of Representatives for two years and on the Clayton County Board of Education for seven years before that.

She currently serves on the following committees:

Appropriations
Public Safety
State Institutions and Property (Secretary)
Transportation
Urban Affairs

Senator Seay is the author of SB 25 and championed HB 985 with Representatives Virgil Fludd and Howard Mosby. These give people in Georgia the option to contribute to an MS research fund through income tax check-offs. This is a quick and easy way for people to contribute to what is one of the most important issues in the MS community.

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson has been serving the state of Georgia for several decades. Senator Isakson began his career in politics in 1974 as a member of the Georgia Legislature where he worked for 17 years. After that he was the Chairman of the Georgia Board of Education and in 1999 was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was then elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

He currently serves on the following committees:

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Foreign Relations
Veterans’ Affairs
Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship
Senate Select Committee on Ethics

Senator Isakson was the first Republican sponsor of S 1273 which is the MS/Parkinson’s Disease Registry Act. It would provide for a registry to be developed which would collect data on the number of cases of MS in the country, patterns of occurrence, analysis of the data, and reporting of the data. This is going to allow the U.S. for the first time to be able to collect complete and accurate data on the scope of MS.

Both of these legislators have shown the utmost commitment to their constituents. Both have shown continued dedication to the issues of people with disabilities. Both are worthy of the honors they have received in the past, will receive this weekend, and will surely continue to receive as they serve the people of Georgia. Congratulations and thank you Senator Seay and Senator Isakson.

Covering Health Care - Medicaid Part 1

2010-06-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

$14,400 annually for one adult
$19,378 annually for two adults
$30,000 annually for a family of four.

Those numbers are all for either 2009 or 2010 and will surely change somewhat in the next few years with inflation.

To put that in some perspective, currently in Georgia, parents are only eligible for Medicaid if they make less than 50% of the federal poverty level and adults with no children are not eligible at all. In 2007-08 in Georgia, 54.1% of the nonelderly uninsured had incomes under 133% of the federal poverty level. Over half of the nonelderly uninsured in Georgia will be eligible for Medicaid with the new law.

The way eligibility will be determined is based on modified adjusted gross income. That takes into account total income plus tax exempt interest and foreign earned income. It also applies a special adjustment of five percentage points which brings the effective income eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level. And eligibility will be determined without any assets tests.

In addition to expanding coverage to more people, the law improves the coverage. It says that there must at least be offered a benefits package that provides the essential health benefits that we covered last week. That includes things like hospitalization, mental health, preventive services, maternity and newborn services, rehabilitation services, etc.

The states must implement this expansion by 2014 at the latest but have the option of doing so earlier if they choose to. If they choose not to expand earlier, they must keep the eligibility requirements that were in place on the date the bill was enacted.

On Thursday we’ll be continuing our look at Medicaid. See you then!

Covering Health Care - Insurance Reform Q&A

2010-06-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Covering Health Care - Insurance Reform Part 2

2010-06-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

An applicable individual shall for each month beginning after 2013 ensure that the individual, and any dependent of the individual who is an applicable individual, is covered under minimum essential coverage for such month.

Now, what exactly does that mean?

The easiest way to define “applicable individual” is to say who is not applicable: illegal immigrants, prisoners during the time of his or her incarceration, members of health care sharing ministries, and individuals who qualify for a “religious conscience exemption” as defined in the law.

In addition to those groups of people, there are exemptions available for individuals who would not feasibly be able to comply with the mandate. These include:

Individuals earning less than the tax filing threshold
If the cheapest plan available exceeds 8% of an individual’s household income
If there is a gap in coverage for less than 3 months
Individuals with income under 100% of the poverty line for the size of the family involved
Individuals who have suffered a hardship which affects his or her ability to get coverage

If none of the above exemptions apply to you, then you will be required to be “covered under minimum essential coverage.” The law defines minimum essential coverage to be employer sponsored plans, plans in the individual market, grandfathered health plans, and any government sponsored programs (Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, etc.).

There is a penalty for not finding insurance. The penalty will be the larger of $695 or 2.5% of income. The law also tries to make it easier to find coverage (Sec. 1103). By July 1 of this year, there will be a website set up which will allow people to find affordable insurance options in their state.

And be aware that the mandate does not go into effect until 2014.

The Exchanges which will be set up by each state by January 1, 2014, will force insurance companies to compete to provide the best coverage for the best price. Individuals and small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) will be eligible to enter the Exchange. The only two groups that will not be eligible for the Exchange are prisoners and illegal immigrants.

What exactly will you be getting should you choose to get coverage through the Exchange? Every plan in the Exchange will be required to offer an essential benefits package which will include prescription drugs, hospitalization, emergency services, maternity and newborn care, and more.

There are also several circumstances where people can get subsidies to help pay for insurance in the Exchange. You can receive subsidies if your income is less than 400% of the federal poverty line which this year was $43, 320 for individuals. If your income is less that 250% you would obviously receive the subsidy, and your cost-sharing would also be restricted.

Even if your income is greater than the 400% line, you may still be able to get a subsidy. If your employer offers insurance that would cost you more than 9.5% of your income, you can choose to purchase your insurance on the Exchange and receive a subsidy. Finally, if the insurance through your employer covers less than 60% of the average medical costs for a member of the plan, you can receive a subsidy.

That’s all for today. If you have any questions or comments please email me and I’ll respond in tomorrow’s post. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Legislator Spotlight: Senator Nan Orrock

2010-06-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

This is a new weekly feature where we’ll put the spotlight on one of Georgia’s legislators for his or her commitment to and passion for the rights of people with disabilities in general and people with MS in particular. These men and women deserve to be recognized for the hard and often thankless work they do.

This week we’re recognizing Senator Nan Orrock from District 36. Senator Orrock served two decades in the Georgia House of Representatives before being elected to the Georgia Senate four years ago. She’s spent her career fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, women, children, the elderly, and a number of other underrepresented groups. In 2008 she was awarded the Legislative Leadership Award by the Governor’s Council on Development Disabilities for her lifetime of activism.

Currently, she serves on the following committees: agriculture and consumer affairs, health and human services (Ex-Officio), higher education, interstate cooperation (Vice Chairman), science and technology, and urban affairs.

We would especially like to recognize Senator Orrock’s work on the New Home Access Act which would enact significantly stricter regulations on the accessibility of new homes. For instance, with this bill, all new homes would be required to have one entrance with no stairs that exceed half an inch and a 36”wide doorway. Both of these changes would be an immense help for any person who uses a wheelchair or other assistive device. The other changes that are in the bill would similarly benefit a great number of people with disabilities in Georgia along with their families.

For this and all of Senator Orrock’s passion and dedication throughout the past decades, we want to commend her. Know that your work is not going unnoticed or unappreciated.

Covering Health Care - Insurance Reform Part 1

2010-06-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

is a citizen, national, or lawfully present in the U.S.,
hasn’t been covered during the 6 months prior to application for the pool,
has a pre-existing condition, like MS.

This program will start Monday, June 21 and will end January 1, 2014. At that time, individuals in the high risk pool will be transferred into the Exchange (which we’ll talk about Thursday). Coverage will continue throughout that process.

I could continue writing about these pools in great detail, but instead, here’s an article that has already done it extremely well: http://www.healthreformgps.org/resources/high-risk-pools-for-uninsured-persons-with-pre-existing-conditions/. It may look familiar since we’ve featured it before on this blog, but I’ve linked it here again in case you missed it before or want another look.

Another exciting change has actually already gone into effect and it deals with caps on coverage (Sec. 2711). Insurance companies are now no longer able to place lifetime limits on coverage. Until 2014, they can still place annual limits but after 2014, they won’t be allowed to do that either. This is a huge help for people with chronic conditions who can easily exceed those lifetime limits because they require frequent treatment and care. Now, that won’t be an issue.

One of the other changes that has already gone into effect will also likely help a number of people in the MS community. Children will now be able to stay on their parent’s insurance up to the age of 26 (Sec. 2714). For many parents, no longer having to worry about whether their children will have insurance will be an immense relief. On top of that, insurance companies cannot deny coverage for children with pre-existing conditions. This is also already in effect.

There are several other changes that will take effect in 2014 which will significantly lessen the burden on people with MS including:

No exclusions based on pre-existing conditions for adults (Sec. 2704)
No variations in premiums based on health OR gender (Sec. 2701)
No waiting periods that exceed 90 days (Sec. 2708)
Guaranteed availability (Sec. 2702) and renewability (Sec. 2703) of coverage

All of these will clearly make life easier for all Americans, but will be particularly important for people with MS.

Finally, this law ensures that preventive care will be covered (Sec. 2713). This means screenings like mammograms and prostate exams, immunizations, and a number of other preventive measures which tend to not be covered by insurance companies. This will not only allow doctors to catch potential problems early for each of their patients, but will make our society healthier in general. Preventing health problems before they arise means better and cheaper health care for individuals.

That’s all for today but we’re not done with insurance reform yet. Check back Thursday for the next installment where we’ll cover exchanges and the individual mandate. And again, if you have any questions please email me. Your question might get covered in the next article, but if not I’ll be answering as many as possible in Friday’s Q&A column. See you Thursday!

NPR: "Georgia Won't Establish High Risk Insurance Pools"

2010-05-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting and brief segment that was recently on NPR. It discusses high risk insurance pools in Georgia and features an MS patient who will greatly benefit from the high risk pool. Be sure to give it a listen!

Governor signs two bills that impact MS, five more to go!!

2010-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

On May 20th, Governor Sonny Perdue signed HB 866, "The Rural Area Physicians Assistance Act", which allows the state medical education board the ability to make grants to rural area hospitals in order to attract new physicians to those regions and SB 316 which allows for the sale of Medigap coverage to all Medicare recipients.

These bills are a huge step for securing access to medical care for Georgia's chronic disease populations, which includes MS.

Make sure you click @ https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1119 to send an email to Governor Perdue to urge his signing of the other significant bills on our legislative agenda.

Big wins for the MS community in this year's state legislative session!!

2010-05-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 29th marked the final day of the Georgia Legislative Session and The Georgia Chapter is elated to announce the passage of multiple pieces of legislation that will have a wide-ranging impact on the MS population and wider disability community in their day to day lives.

HB 1272 creates a tax check off on individual tax forms for the newly created MS Research Program Fund. Starting in 2011, all individual tax forms will now allow tax-payers the ability to check off the MS Research Program Fund and give a portion or all of their tax refund to this newly created fund managed by the Department of Community Health. This bill was a long and hard fought 3 year battle with many champions and we’re very excited to announce its passage through the legislature.

HB 1040 amends the Nurse Practice Act to allow trained unlicensed caregivers the ability to perform certain health maintenance activities in the home with the written consent of a physician. This will save Georgian consumers thousands in home health costs. The bill passed the State Senate last week and will be on its way to being enacted by the Governor.

HB 277 creates a new state-wide transportation plan for the state of Georgia. The bill divides the state into 12 regions. A “roundtable” of local elected officials in each region would draw up a list of projects for the region, and then submit the list to voters for approval in a referendum, along with a 1 percent sales tax to fund them. The bill also provides a three year lift on the restriction on how MARTA can spend its sales tax revenue, providing an immediate boost for Metro Atlanta transportation. This bill passed the Senate after a long debate in conference committee between the two houses and is expected to be signed by the Governor.

HR 1713 is a resolution requesting that the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Community Health, and Human Services submit to the General Assembly a multi-year comprehensive plan for creating a system of supports for home and community-based services that support the independent living of Georgians with disabilities. This is an incredibly important resolution, as a multi-year funding plan will be a necessity to further draw-down the Medicaid waiver waiting list for home and community based supports.

HB 866 allows the State Medical Education Board to approve grants from untapped dollars in their scholarship fund. The grants will be made to rural area hospitals in order to recruit more physicians into the state to help serve areas where physicians and specialists might not be practicing otherwise.

HB 1314 allows for the creation of matched savings accounts (Individual Development Accounts) that can now be used for assistive technology and modifications within the home or automobile. These accounts will help increase access to these needed items and services for Georgia’s low-income population living with disabilities.

SB 316 is a bill that will allow Medicare beneficiaries who are under the age of 65 and living with disabilities the ability to purchase Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) policies. These policies are extremely important to supplement Medicare payments for people using the original Medicare plan.

HB 321 secures Georgia’s Prompt Pay statutes for physicians who serve consumers that use Third Party Administrators in their health insurance plans. This bill ensures that physicians are paid in a timely manner for their invaluable services and creates a more attractive practice environment in Georgia.

With the end of this very successful state legislative session we now turn our focus to our Federal advocacy efforts. We look forward to carrying this incredible momentum throughout the rest of the year. Make sure you follow our efforts at www.twitter.com/takeactionforMS and if you are interested in becoming an MS Activist sign up today at www.nationalmssociety.org/msactivist or contact us at 678-672-1000/1-800-FIGHT-MS, email at Kyle.Pinion@nmssga.org

Big wins for the MS community before the session ends!

2010-04-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Chapter is very excited to announce the passage of three pieces of legislation that will have a wide-ranging impact on the MS community and wider disability community in their day to day lives.

HB 1040 which amends the Nurse Practice Act in allowing trained unlicensed caregivers the ability to perform certain health maintenance activities in the home with the written consent of a physician, saving Georgian consumers thousands in home health costs, passed the State Senate last week and will be on its way to being enacted by the Governor.

HB 277 creates a new state-wide transportation plan for the state of Georgia. The bill would divide the state into 12 regions. A “roundtable” of local elected officials in each region would draw up a list of projects for the region, and could then submit the list to voters for their approval in a referendum, along with a 1 percent sales tax to fund them. No county could opt out of a region’s tax, but a roundtable could decline to hold a referendum in the region. The bill also provides a three year lift on the restriction on how MARTA can spend it's sales tax revenue, providing an immediate boost for Metro Atlanta transportation. This bill also passed the Senate after a long debate in conference committee between the two houses and will also be signed by the Governor.

HR 1713 is a Resolution requesting that the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Community Health, and Human Services submit to the General Assembly a multi-year comprehensive plan for creating a system of supports for home and community-based services that support the independent living of Georgians with disabilities. This is an incredibly important resolution, as a multi-year funding plan will be a necessity to further draw-down the Medicaid waiver waiting list for home and community based supports.

With two more legislative days to go this Tuesday and Thursday, it will be a very exciting time in the Gold Dome. Make sure you follow our efforts at www.twitter.com/takeactionforMS

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!!

National High Risk Pool overview

2010-04-26T07:27:00.001-07:00

This is a great article from Health Reform GPS http://www.healthreformgps.org/resources/high-risk-pools-for-uninsured-persons-with-pre-existing-conditions/:

High Risk Pools for Uninsured Persons with Pre-Existing Conditions

April 22, 2010

Beginning in 2014, individuals who do not have access to affordable employer coverage will be eligible to purchase insurance (with subsidies, if they qualify) through state health insurance exchanges regardless of any pre-existing conditions. In the near term, however, the question is how to help individuals who may not be able to obtain coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The health reform law immediately prohibits insurers and health plans from denying coverage to children under 19 because of pre-existing conditions,[1] but the law contains no similar provision for adults.

Thirty-five states operated high risk pools as of 2010. A high risk pool makes health insurance available to persons with pre-existing conditions who cannot qualify for insurance because of a pre-existing condition. But state high risk pools cover relatively few people because of their high premium costs, which can range from 125 percent to 200 percent of the standard individual insurance premium rate charged to a standard population with no underlying health conditions.[2]

Changes Made by the Health Reform Law Pub. L. 111-148, §1101

The law directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a “temporary high risk health insurance pool program”[3] to provide health insurance coverage for “eligible individuals.”[4] An eligible individual is a citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. legal resident who has a pre-existing condition and has not been “covered under creditable coverage”[5] for six months before applying for enrollment.[6]

The law defines a “qualified high risk pool”[7] as one that:
Provides “all eligible individuals” health insurance without “any pre-existing condition exclusion” on coverage.

Guarantees a minimum actuarial value, specifying that the “insurer’s share of the total allowed cost of benefits provided … is not less than 65 percent of such costs.”
Limits out-of-pocket costs for covered services to no more than $5950 for an individual and twice the amount for family coverage (or an alternative amount specified by the Secretary if necessary to assure that the pool meets the 65 percent medical loss ratio test);

Assures that premium rating varies only by rating area, tobacco use, whether the coverage is on an individual or family basis, and age. (Age variations are restricted to no more than a four-to-one ratio.)

Charges participants the standard rate for individual coverage without taking into account any additional costs possibly arising from their health conditions.

The law terminates the federal high risk insurance pool on January 1, 2014, when the health insurance exchanges begin, and requires the Secretary to “develop procedures to provide for the transition of eligible individuals into “qualified health plans”[8] offered through exchanges.

The law requires the Secretary to make adjustments to eliminate deficits in any fiscal year she estimates that the “aggregate amounts available for the payment of the expenses of the high risk pool will be less than the actual amount of [pool] expenses.”[9]

The law provides that the standards governing a federally funded high risk pool shall “supersede any state law or regulation (other than . . . .licensing or . . . . solvency) with respect to qualified high risk pools which are established”[10] under the law.

The law allows the Secretary to carry out the program either directly or through contracts to “eligible entities,”[11] including states or nonprofit private entities. States that seek to operate a pool must fund risk pools at the same level as the year before the first year of operation under a federal contract.

The law requires the Secretary to establish “protections against dumping risk by insurers”[12] and to determine “whether health insurance issuers and employment-based health plans have discouraged an individual from remaining enrolled in ‘prior coverage’[13] based on that individual’s health status.” The law directs the Secretary to develop review criteria for measuring dumping risk, which must include “at least the following circumstances:”[14]
In the case of insurance obtained either directly from an insurer or under an employer plan, either “the provision of money or other financial consideration for disenrolling.”
Age-adjusting the premiums to exceed those required under the program.
Stopping active marketing of certain policies that previously were offering.
Conditioning the renewal price on the “duration coverage [from] issue or health status are factors that can be considered in determining premiums at renewal.”[15]

The law directs the Secretary to establish an appeals process to “enable individuals to appeal a determination” and “procedures to protect against waste, fraud and abuse.”[16]

Implementation

Agency and timeline

The United States Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for implementing and overseeing the high risk insurance pool. The health reform law specifies a 90-day implementation period, but does not provide specific direction regarding the administrative process to be used. HHS therefore has the discretion to use a range of implementation tools such as publishing regulations in the Federal Register with a public notice and comment period, or by other approaches such as posted policy instructions, announcements of funding availability announcements (where applicable), official letters to affected entities (such as letters to state Medicaid agencies) and posted rulings and notices. Agency websites can be regularly checked for updates.

Process

The Secretary of HHS began to solicit state interest on April 2, 2010, through a letter setting forth program elements.

Key Implementation Issues
For states:
What options will states have in terms of structuring their pools? The April 2 HHS letter sets forth five options: Operate a new high risk pool alongside a current state high risk pool, establish a new high risk pool (in a state that does not currently have a high risk pool), build upon other existing coverage programs designed to cover high risk individuals, contract with a current HIPAA carrier of last resort or another carrier to provide subsidized coverage for the eligible population, or do nothing, in which case HHS would carry out a coverage program in the state.
What relationship, if any, will be established between existing state high risk pools (which may use other eligibility criteria) and the federal pool?

If a state elects to not establish a new pool or a new federally funded pool alongside its own pool, what process will HHS use to establish a pool within the state?
How the high risk pool will work in states that do not use a high risk pool but already require their insurers to sell health insurance on a “guaranteed issue” basis, meaning that policies must be sold to individuals regardless of underlying health conditions?
For individuals: What will the application procedures and criteria be? How will individuals be expected to prove their citizenship or legal status, the existence of a pre-existing condition, and the absence of “creditable coverage” within the preceding six months? How will individuals learn about the pool and what types of assistance will they be able to receive at the time of application? What will be the initial enrollment date in a state, that is, when will a program actually be established? Will insurance be affordable to older people who are subject to the four-to-one premium ratio, and, if not, can the federal or state governments make subsidies available? Will plans made available be required to offer a minimum level of benefits?
For members: What appeals procedures will the Secretary establish so that members can appeal a “determination?” What actions by high risk pool insurers will be considered to be a “determination” for purposes of exercising appeals rights?

For insurers that participate in a state high risk pool: What procedures will be used to assure that qualification criteria are met both initially and on an ongoing basis? What types of data will insurers be required to submit and will the submission process be to federal or state regulators, or to both? Will the final federal standards include minimum benefit criteria?
For insurers and employer plans: what types of conduct will be considered risk dumping, and how will the identified circumstances in the law be interpreted and applied? What qualifies as a prohibited type of “financial consideration”? What does it mean to no longer actively market a particular policy? What meaning will be given to the concept of “prior coverage”? How will the Secretary decide if an insurer is impermissibly considering the duration of coverage from issue or health status at the time of renewal? What types of information will employer plans and issuers be required to submit and how will the Secretary monitor the insurance and benefit plan landscape for evidence of such conduct?

Overall federal management: What process will the Secretary use to assure that in the aggregate expenditures do not exceed available funds? What types of adjustments may be made in the event that spending estimates are exceeded?

Recent Agency Action

HHS sent a letter to all states on April 2, 2010 soliciting their intent to participate.
Authorized Funding Levels

Congress has authorized and made immediately available five billion dollars to support the program. The CMS actuary estimated that this would last for 2010 and part way into 2011. At that point, the program will need to be cut back.

MARTA Matters Rally!!

2010-04-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Come and show your support for Metro Atlanta Mass Transit!!

April 20, 2010 10 am to noon, and 6 pm and 8 pm at the Five Points MARTA station.

More info here via Creative Loafing: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/files/2010/04/MARTA-Matters-Event-Flyer1.pdf

Four bills pass out of committee!!

2010-04-15T08:28:00.001-07:00

This past Tuesday, April 13, was a very exciting day for the Georgia Chapter as four bills that we support passed out of their respective committees to head towards final floor votes.

These bills include:

SB 316 - which allows Medicare recipients under the age of 65 the ability to purchase Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) coverage.

HB 866 - allows the State Medical Education Boards to award grants to rural area hospitals to recruit more physicians into the state.

HB 1040 - amends the Nurse Practice Act to allow for unlicensed caretakers the ability to perform certain health maintenance activities in the home.

HB 1314 - allows for the creation of matched Individual Development Accounts to be used to assistive technology, and home/auto modifications.

We will continue to work towards securing these bills' passage before the end of the session.

Please take the time, if you haven't already, to take action on the following Action Alert in regard to HB 1040: https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1012

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!

Some good news for Clayton County residents

2010-04-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

While we still await what will occur with Rep. Abdul-Salaam's bill that proposes a 1 cent sales tax referrendum to help save Clayton County's public transit system, the following article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle details the Public Service Commission's efforts to help Clayton residents.

Vans to replace Clayton County buses

Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Dave Williams Staff Writer

A passenger van carrier has stepped into the public transit breach caused when Clayton County’s bus system ceased operations last week.

The Georgia Public Service Commission voted Tuesday to grant emergency authority to Southside Transportation to provide transportation service to Clayton residents left without a ride when the cash-strapped county commission voted to shut down C-TRAN on March 31.
According to the company’s application, Southside will operate two 15-passenger vans that will carry passengers from Clayton County to a MARTA Park-and-Ride lot on Riverdale Road. Riders will pay $2 per trip.

“While this carrier will not replace C-TRAN, the commission has given Southside the opportunity to step in right away and meet some of the needs of Clayton County commuters,” said Commissioner Chuck Eaton, chairman of the PSC’s Transportation Committee.

“The commission hopes the emergency certificate will fill the needs of those who rely on public transportation for so many things such as jobs, health care and grocery shopping.”

The emergency authority is good for 60 days while Southside seeks a permanent certificate of authority from the PSC.

State Legislative Report - Post Crossover Day 2010

2010-03-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

We've prepared a fully detailed report on bills that we support that have either survived or died on Crossover Day in the state legislature.

To read the report, click here: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/GAA/chapter-news/chapter-news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2971

Healthcare Reform passes!! What now?

2010-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

The National MS Society is pleased to note that the recently passed legislation represents an important victory and meets many of the Society’s Healthcare Reform Principles. Health care has been inadequate for too many families living with MS and this legislation will help move towards making quality, affordable care more accessible.

Because MS Activists refused to give up we have helped make something happen that has been decades in the making. This legislation will:

§ Prohibit discrimination against an individual based on pre-existing health conditions;
§ Place limitations on out-of-pockets costs;
§ Provide access to long-term supports and services;
§ Expand the Medicaid program;
§ Provide subsidies to those who cannot afford coverage; and
§ Eliminate lifetime limits on the amount of coverage a person may receive

While many of these reforms won't take place until 2014, you may be asking, what does this bill do for me in the meantime?

Three major reforms that were included in the package are the following:

- Starting 90 days after enactment, a Federal High Risk Insurance Pool will begin for anyone with a pre-existing condition that cannot purchase health care coverage. This pool acts as a stop-gap measure before pre-existing condition exclusions are eliminated.

- Starting immediately, the FDA will be able to approve follow-on (or generic versions) biologics, creating more affordable MS disease modifying therapy options.

- Starting, January 1, 2011; the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (the CLASS Act) will be enacted; providing cash benefits through voluntary payroll deductions for anyone enrolled that may need in home health care in the future due to the onset of disability.

These are important reforms that go towards helping people with MS now!! We at the Georgia Chapter are very excited about the prospects of this newly passed legislation.

Very successful MS Awareness Day at the State Capitol

2010-03-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

On Thursday March 11 of this past week, the Georgia Chapter and our wonderful MS Activist volunteers came down to the state capitol to spread awareness about issues important to the MS community in Georgia...

These issues include:

SB 330 - Ending Lifetime/Annual limits and rescission in insurance plans.

SB 453 - Creating and funding a Georgia reinsurance pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions in the state.

HB 1040 - Amending the Nurse Practice Act to allow for more affordable in-home care options.

HB 985 - Creating an MS Research Fund tax check off in Georgia individual tax forms.

Our issues gained wide and broad support from both sides of the aisle and we couldn't be more excited about the progress we made with over 60 visits to members of the Georgia legislature.

Please stay tuned to this blog and our twitter feed at www.twitter.com/takeactionforMS to keep up with our continued strides forward.

SB 330 to be heard in committee next week

2010-03-05T11:24:00.001-08:00

Senate Bill 330, which is a bill that disavows rescissions in healthcare plans in Georgia as well as eliminating annual and life-time benefit caps in health insurance has been introduced and scheduled for a Senate Insurance Committee hearing next week.

This is a bill that will benefit all Georgians, but especially those living with a chronic disease like MS.

But, we need your stories for the upcoming Insurance Committee hearing. If you have or are currently experiencing issues with your annual or life-time limits in your health care plan or have been the victim of rescissions from your healthcare plan, please contact Kyle Pinion at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org. Your story could make all the difference for the passing of this legislation.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist.

Can't make it to MS Awareness Day??

2010-02-22T09:13:00.001-08:00

MS Awareness Day is approaching! Georgia’s MS Awareness Day will take place on March 11, 2010 at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.We know that not everyone can join us in Atlanta during this event, so for the first time ever, we are offering a variety of ways for you to participate from home. The Internet is a powerful tool for spreading our message and gaining support, so we are developing materials to help you get involved on a personal level using online resources and social networking.

Take a moment and pledge that you will participate in our armchair activism event using the virtual components we are providing. By pledging, you will receive sample materials and updates on how you can participate from home.Here are some ways you can fight MS without even leaving your desk:

· Write an email to your local representative and tell your personal story the same week as our Awareness Day to reinforce our message.
· Update your blog with your own story about your experiences with MS and our priority issues.· Become our fan on Facebook and connect with other activists.
· Update your Facebook status on MS Awareness Day to spread the word about MS issues.
· Follow our Twitter page to get news about MS activism, and even get real-time updates from MS Awareness Day at the State Capitol.

Through these methods, you can advocate for our legislative priorities, which include items such as protecting Medicaid enhancements, advocating for more accessible homes, better access to assistive technology, and more physician options in rural communities.

If you would like more information about our priorities or have any other advocacy related questions, email kyle.pinion@nmssga.org
Contact us now to participate in our Virtual MS Awareness Day, don’t delay.

HB 1040 will expand home health access.

2010-02-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

HB 1040, a bill in Georgia that amends the Georgia Nurse Practice Act, is intended to allow an unlicensed person who is trained by an RN to provide a defined health maintenance activities in the home for people living with disabilities under the written order of a physician or nurse practitioner.

This is a needed bill for the MS community as there are thousands of people in Georgia who could be cared for at home, but who need health maintenance activities that, under current law, must be provided by a licensed nurse.

This bill opens the door for greater home health options for people with disabilities, allowing them to remain in the community rather than an institutionalized setting, as home health can become more affordable under this bill. This bill will also provide the potential for greater nurse aide retention and help ease the nurse shortage across the state.

This bill is currently being heard in the Judiciary Committee in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Please contact your State Rep and let them know you support HB 1040 and the goal of making community care more affordable for all of Georgia's citizens.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!

Make sure you sign up for MS Awareness Day at the State Capitol!!

2010-02-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

This year, MS Awareness Day will take place on March 11th at the State Capitol at 10 am. This day is an important opportunity for you as an MS Activist to meet your legislator and let them know about issues that are important to you!

This year, we'll speak with our elected officials in the General Assembly about issues related to MS research, access to physicians in rural areas, accessible homes, and more!!

For more information, email Kyle Pinion at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org
We look forward to seeing you there and making a difference with you!!

The Elephant in the Room - Long Term Care

2010-02-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

With so much of the current debate in Washington, D.C. focused on lowering health care costs and increasing access for all Americans, there’s been an important facet of the reform measures that have been forgotten by most pundits, the public and possibly even some legislators: Long-term Care reform.

Long-term care services are needed when a person’s ability to provide their own care has been halted by a disability or disease. Services under the long-term care banner range from dispensing of medications to preparation of meals and bathing.

According to the SCAN Foundation, about 10 million people of all ages need long-term care and about 40% of people with long-term care needs are under the age of 65. About two-thirds of that 10 million receive their long-term support from family and friends, one-fifth receive in-home care from professionals in a community setting, and 14% receive support in nursing homes. Payment for these kinds of services can range in the hundreds per week, creating a rather large cost-burden on patients, families and care partners.

When you’re young and healthy, long term care insurance is available for investment into future planning, but once you’ve already been diagnosed with a disease, the likelihood of being able to obtain insurance is slim to none.

Throughout 2009, two pieces of legislation were being lobbied for by advocates for those living with chronic diseases and disabilities. The first (as written about by the GCDD earlier in this blog) was the brainchild of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Senate Bill 697 would create a national, disability insurance enrollment program for all employees (with the ability to waive enrollment) and provides cash benefits for the enrolled if they find they are unable to perform two Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) any longer due to the course of their disease or disability, these cash benefits (with average around $75 per day) are to be applied towards in-home health care.

The second piece that was being discussed was The Community Choice Act (HB 1670), which is based around the idea that all states that receive Medicaid must provide nursing home services, but needed community based services are optional, which is reflect in Medicaid spending nationally where 67% goes towards institutional services and 33% covers community based wavers. HB 1670 provides an essential alternative for people in need of long-term care services, providing a choice for people receiving Medicaid benefits. Those now living in institutionalized settings would be able to receive community supports, additionally families and caretakers will be able to choose where there loved one receives services. This bill would build on the money-follows-the-person concept and effectively ends Medicaid’s institutional bias.
In the Senate health care reform bill (HR 3590), the CLASS Act has been included as an amendment onto the bill as it is currently written. While the CLASS Act addition onto the bill has some detractors (both within the insurance industry and on Capitol Hill), it remains an integral part of the reform legislation effort, and recently survived a very close vote to keep it within the bill (51 for vs. 47 against). The Community Choice Act, while not in the bill, has been addressed in a manner of speaking, by Senator Tom Harkin’s amendment to the bill in the “Community First Choice Option.” This amendment rather than requiring states to provide the choice between institutionalized and in-home care, instead encourages that states do so. Whether this change proves to be effective remains to be seen, but it at the very least it highlights a very important issue for people receiving attendant care.

While the future of the HR 3590 remains in doubt in light of the recent special election in Massachusetts, we remain hopeful that these long-term care reforms receive the proper attention they deserve by our elected officials on Capitol Hill in order to effectively eliminate the institutional bias in Medicaid and provide greater incentives for people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses to reenter the work force.

HB 985 moves forward!

2010-02-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Georgia House Bill (HB) 985, sponsored by Rep. Virgil Fludd and Rep. Howard Mosby, which creates a tax check off for the National MS Society - Georgia Chapter's financial assistance program allowing tax payers to donate a portion or all of their tax return to this program, has been assigned to the Income Tax subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Contact your Representative in the Georgia Legislature today and let them know that you want to see this bill move forward to the House Floor.

A big thanks goes to Reps. Fludd and Mosby for their support of this legislation!!

General Assembly Session Opens!

2010-01-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

With the opening of this year's Georgia legislative session, the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society has "hit the ground running" on a number of bills that impact the MS and disability communities.

Within the first two weeks, the Georgia Chapter has worked to obtain support for Senate Bill 247 the "New Home Access Act" which requires that all new homes in the state of Georgia be built with one zero-step entrance, wide interior doors and blocking for hand-rails in ground floor bathrooms. This bill would be an impressive step towards equality in home purchases for all adults living with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The Georgia Chapter is proud to announce that Representative Virgil Fludd will be sponsoring the House version of Senate Bill 25, which allows tax payers in Georgia the opportunity to donate a portion or all of their tax return to the National MS Society - Georgia Chapter's financial assistance program for people with MS through an optional tax check off box. We are so very greatful for this continued support on behalf of another great champion of MS issues in the General Assembly.

But it doesn't stop there, the Georgia Chapter will be working for greater access to healthcare in the state, creating a better medical practice environment for physicians, and opening up new transportation options for all Georgians living with disabilities. You can join our effort...sign up to be a member of the Capitol Action Squad by contacting us at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org and we'll get you all the tools you need to join the front-lines of MS Activism.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!

In great news...

2009-11-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Congressman John Lewis has signed on to support HR 3799, The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act.

Introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson, this bill will look at cap out of pocket prescription costs at a max of $200 per prescription and at $500 total for any group of prescriptions.

The expanding cost of prescription medications and drug tiering are a major barrier for people living with MS to access the life-altering medication they so desperately need.

Contact your member of Congress today and ask that they support HR 3799 and help make prescription medications more accessible and affordable.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!

Details of what Healthcare Reform could bring in 2010

2009-11-02T07:24:00.001-08:00

The House version of the Healthcare Reform bill was announced on Thursday, and we wanted to make sure you were aware of the potential reforms that have been announced to take place in 2010 if the bill reaches passage as is....

1. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE — Reduces the donut hole by $500 and institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs, effective January 1, 2010.

2. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL) — Creates a temporary insurance program until the Exchange is available for individuals who have been uninsured for several months or have been denied a policy because of pre-existing conditions.

3. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.

4. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Prohibits insurers from nullifying or rescinding a patient’s policy when they file a claim forbenefits, except in the case of fraud.

5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE— Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice.

6. ELIMINATES COST-SHARING FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICES IN MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program.

7. IMPROVES HELP FOR LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES—Improves the low-income protection programs in Medicare to assure more individuals are able to access this vital help.

8. PROVIDES NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE— Prohibits Medicare Advantage plans from charging enrollees higher cost-sharing for services in their private plan than what is charged in traditional Medicare.

9. IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE ON PRICE GOUGING—Discourages excessive price increases by insurance companies through review and disclosure of insurance rate increases.

10. CONTINUITY FOR DISPLACED WORKERS—Allows Americans to keep their COBRA coverage until the Exchange is in place and they can access affordable coverage.

11. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled.

12. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a $10 billon fund to finance a temporary reinsurance program to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64.

13. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years.

14. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS — Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals.

You can still take action today!! Contact your member of Congress and let them know that you support Healthcare Reform and you want to see greater options for people in Georgia who are living with chronic diseases like MS!
Take action by visiting www.nationalmssociety.org/healthcarereform

View our first Video Action Alert!!

2009-10-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Congressman Johnson introduces bill to eliminate drug tiering!

2009-10-15T13:31:00.001-07:00

Congressman Hank Johnson from Georgia's own 4th District introduced a bill yesterday that addresses a growing concern among people with Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic diseases, HR 3799 "The Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs Act".

This bill, of which the Georgia Chapter worked towards, would enact a cap on monthly out-of-pocket costs for specialty drugs, including those covered under Medicare Part D and private insurance plans. This is a companion piece to S. 1630 authored by Senator John Rockefeller. This legislation caps the amount a person could be charged for any one prescription at $200, and establishes a $500 cap on how much an individual can be charged for all medications per month.

The Society is aware that a growing number of insurers are moving medications vital to an individual’s health onto “specialty tiers”, effectively pricing the medications out of the reach of those who desperately need them. This problem impacts patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases such as arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and hundreds of rare diseases.

With this legislation, the Society is looking forward to working towards an end to this discriminatory practice towards those living with chronic conditions.

Please send an email to your Congressman at the following link http://bit.ly/bdZJp and ask that they support HR 3799 sponsored by Congressman Hank Johnson.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!

House Adds Hate Crimes Protections For People With Disabilities

2009-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

By Michelle Diament
For Disability Scoop
October 9, 2009

Violent crimes committed based on a person’s disability would become federal hate crimes offenses under legislation approved by the House of Representatives Thursday.

The measure builds upon the 1968 hate crimes act by adding disability, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected statuses. Current law includes protections for crimes committed based on a person’s race, color, religion or national origin.The move comes on the heels of a Justice Department study released earlier this month indicating that people with disabilities are 50 percent more likely to experience nonfatal violent crime as compared to their peers. Of crime victims with disabilities, the study indicated that about one in five said they thought their disability was the reason they were targeted.

“No American should ever have to suffer persecution or violence because of who they are, how they look or what they believe,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said of the hate crimes bill, which passed as part of a larger defense spending bill. “This legislation also gives state and local law enforcement the tools they need to prevent and prosecute hate crimes nationwide, helping protect Americans against bias-motivated violence and securing our fundamental right to feel safe in our communities.”

Many Republicans, however, voted against the defense spending bill because the hate crimes provision — which they called “thought crimes legislation” — was included.
The legislation must still be approved by the Senate and by President Barack Obama, both of which are likely.

Copyright © 2009 Disability Scoop, LLC. All Rights Reserved. For reprints and permissions click here.

MS Activism! Now on Twitter!

2009-10-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Follow our MS Activism efforts on twitter: www.twitter.com/takeactionforms
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Congresswoman living with MS tells her story.

2009-10-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Reposted from our National Activist blog:

It was literally a pain in her neck that started Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-Ohio) problems in 2003. Then the pain spread to her shoulder and her arm, and she became more and more worried about what was wrong.

“Oh, there were all kinds of theories, and I was one of those bad patients who used to, like, wake up in the middle of the night and worry about what it was and go on WebMD and get a diagnosis myself,” she recalled last week, laughing.

The problems accelerated until one night when Kilroy, a Franklin County commissioner at the time, was at a meeting of the Ohio Democratic Party analyzing voter turnout in the 2002 election. At some point she realized she couldn’t move her left arm, but she didn’t head to the emergency room until she had finished her meeting. The diagnosis was worse than the ones that she had found online: Kilroy had multiple sclerosis.

Six years later, Kilroy, now 60, is in her first term representing Columbus in the House. As the health care debate rages on, she has decided to use her personal story to help fellow lawmakers understand how important it is to make health care available for all Americans. In a “Dear Colleague” letter she sent last week, Kilroy told them about her own diagnosis.

“I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2003,” she wrote. “It is a serious disease, but I am lucky to have insurance that pays for most of the cost of the expensive drugs that slow its progression and help prevent disability.”

Though she announced her diagnosis in 2003, it warranted only a short article in her hometown paper and reassurances that she would run for re-election as a county commissioner. Her disease didn’t come up publicly during her failed run for Congress in 2006 or her successful run in 2008.

It is consequential, though: Multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disease — in this case, when the body’s immune system attacks its central nervous system, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kilroy has the most common form, relapsing-remitting MS, which is characterized by occasional flare-ups between periods of remission. With physical therapy and other treatment, Kilroy got the use of her arm back, and she said she soon realized there are “worse things” than MS. In fact, now she’s using her illness to try to shape legislation for those who might not have the same sort of coverage that she has.

Although Kilroy is apparently the only person diagnosed with MS to ever be elected to Congress, she is not the only Member to have experienced a serious illness. She’s also not the only Member to see her own illness as a way to advance an agenda.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), for instance, created a stir earlier this year when she announced she had been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She was diagnosed in December 2007 but didn’t go public until March 2009.

“I just really wanted to deal with it privately,” she said, adding that she didn’t want to alarm her three young kids before she knew the cancer was behind her. “I didn’t want it to define me. I knew well-meaning people would make decisions on my behalf about what I was capable of doing.”

After she did go public, though, Wasserman Schultz quickly moved to use her experience to benefit others. On March 26, she introduced the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, which would increase awareness of the ways that breast cancer can be detected early. Though she has been less vocal on the issue of health insurance coverage, she agrees with Kilroy that fighting against a serious disease at the same time that a patient is fighting for insurance coverage is too difficult. Both Democrats support the public insurance option.

One of Wasserman Schultz’s confidantes is another breast cancer survivor, Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), 68. Myrick was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, during her third term representing Charlotte in the House, and she went public immediately after surgery to remove the cancer. (Her five children were all adults, so she was less worried about their reaction than Wasserman Schultz was about her kids.)

Like Wasserman Schultz, Myrick became a champion for cancer-related causes: In 2000, she pushed through a bill that would allow women already diagnosed with cervical and breast cancer to receive the same pap smears and mammograms being offered to those who hadn’t yet been diagnosed, and she now serves as co-chairwoman of the House Cancer Caucus. In September, Myrick talked about her personal experience in her response to President Barack Obama’s radio address on health care.

“Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew something was wrong with my body — but it took six doctors, three mammograms and one ultrasound before they found my cancer. The process took only a few weeks,” she said. “Under the government-run health care system they have in Canada and the United Kingdom, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get those tests so quickly.”

Myrick insists the health care system needs changes but opposes the public insurance option. In an interview last week, she said she would divide the massive health care bill into parts and focus first on the provisions that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, such as portability of insurance across state lines and between jobs.

Unlike Myrick, who sits on the influential Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Kilroy is a freshman Democrat not sitting on a committee handling the health care legislation. Her chances to shape the bill are limited, but she says she does talk to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) about health care in her weekly meetings with freshmen.

Like Myrick and Wasserman Schultz, Kilroy carries with her the memories of constituents who have approached her to talk about their struggles with disease and insurance coverage. She encourages them to take up the fight for health care as well.

“I talk to them about how important it is for them to be engaged and involved in this fight for health care, to make sure that they let their Members of Congress — myself or Senators or others, the White House — know how important that this health care issue is for people like us,” she said.

Click here to view a video of Rep. Kilroy speaking on behalf of this issue.

This is an October 6 article in Roll Call written by Tricia Miller.

New website launched to further employment for people with disabilities.

2009-09-25T08:42:00.001-07:00

The Campaign for Disability Employment, a new effort of the American Association of People with Disabilities, Special Olympics and a cross coalition of other groups has launched The Campaign for Disability Employment; a website for resources to learn about disability employment issues and a repository for how people living with disabilities in the workplace can share their stories.

Be sure to check out http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/ and learn about this ever important topic!

Come visit the Advocacy table at the MS Health Expo!

2009-08-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, Aug 29th, the Georgia Chapter will be hosting the third annual MS Wellness Expo at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel located at 2450 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta GA 30339 from 9 am to 3 pm.

While registration is closed for the program, for those of you who have registered, please take the opportunity to visit the Advocacy table and pick up some information, sign up to be an MS activist, or just come by and say hello to our Public Policy staff!

We look forward to seeing you!

Ask Senators Isakson and Chambliss to support S. 1630

2009-08-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Late last week, Senator John Rockefeller (WV) introduced the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act (S. 1630). This bill will cap out-of-pocket costs at $200 per prescription/per month (not to exceed $500 in any one month for all prescriptions combined). This would apply to all health insurance plans including Medicare and private market plans.

Many people living with MS are often forced to stop/postpone/halve their prescribed therapy because they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their medications. Others have to make tough decisions on what bills don’t get paid or fixed. These high out-of-pocket costs impose a significant burden on someone living with MS, whose health can depend on expensive drugs and constitutes an undue and unjust discrimination based on their disease, disability, or condition.

The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act (S.1630) will:

- Establish a cap on prescription drug costs. The bill establishes a $200 cap on the amount a person could be charged for any one prescription, and a $500 cap on the total amount an individual could be charged for all prescriptions in any given month. These caps apply to all public and private insurance coverage, including Medicare prescription drug plans.

- Create an exceptions process for specialty drugs. The most expensive prescription drugs in the Medicare prescription drug program that are on specialty tiers are not subject to beneficiary exemption requests. For all other Medicare-covered prescription drugs, a beneficiary can request an exemption to allow them access to needed drugs. High-cost, specialty drugs can be difficult to access, and this bill will allow any beneficiary to request any necessary prescription drug through the exemption process.

- Require MedPAC studies on discrimination and cost-sharing. The first study will review Medicare prescription drug polices (under Medicare Parts B, C, and D) to make sure they do not violate non-discrimination rules. The second study will examine the impact of prescription drug cost-sharing on beneficiaries and their health.

Seek Senators Isakson and Chambliss support on this EXTREMELY important piece of legislation.

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!!

Town Hall in Macon TONIGHT!!!

2009-08-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Come learn about how to become an MS Activist and about hot issues affecting you as someone living with MS!!!

Where: Butler Toyota of Macon
4580 Riverside Dr.
Macon, GA 31210

6-8 pm

A light dinner will be served!

We hope to see all of our Macon MS Activists there!

Health Care Reform!!

2009-08-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

As your member of Congress enters into the August recess this month, please take the time to reach out to their office and let them know your thoughts about the proposed Health Care Reform agenda to be voted on by the House of Representatives, and share the Society's Healthcare reform agenda with them:
You can access the Society's Health Care Reform principles at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/government-affairs-and-advocacy/index.aspx

Victory in the House Appropriations Committee

2009-07-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

Throughout the year, we had asked for your support in obtaining a congressional earmark for MS research funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

We are very excited to announce the following news:
Just this week the House Appropriations Committee provided $6 Million to the MS CDMRP program in the FY 10 Defense Appropriation bill! This is an increase of $1 million over last year (20%).

This is a huge victory for our MS Activists and their efforts! We cannot thank you enough for your support and outreach to your members of Congress.

The next step will be in the Senate, we must seek the support of both Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. Please contact their office and ask they they support the House's 6 million dollar earmark for MS research in the FY10 Defense Appropriation Bill!!

Thank you so much for everything you do as an MS Activist!!

Senator Chambliss has signed onto the Registry Bill!

2009-07-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

In a great victory for MS Activists state-wide, we have learned that Senator Saxby Chambliss joined Senator Johnny Isakson as a co-sponsor for the National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registry Act (S.1273)!

This means that both of Georgia's Senators are in full support of this all too important measure.

We couldn't have done it without your unwavering support as MS Activists in the state of Georgia!

Stay tuned for more exciting news!!

MS Registry bill introduced in Senate, seek Senator Chambliss' support.

2009-06-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all MS activists who have been pushing for a national multiple sclerosis registry.

Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would for the first time establish a national coordinated system to collect and analyze data on multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease — the National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act (S. 1273).

Many of you have expressed concern about whether the current numbers accurately reflect the MS community. Ask your Senators to support the MS registry legislation. Click here and enter your ZIP to take action.

This legislation would establish separate registries for MS and Parkinson's disease at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The epidemiological data collected and analyzed through the MS registry will provide a foundation for evaluating and understanding MS issues such as geographic clusters of diagnosis, genetic and environmental risk factors, variances in gender ratio, disease burden, and changes in health care practices.

We are proud to announce that Senator Johnny Isakson is an original co-sponsor for this bill, please help us by contacting Senator Saxby Chambliss at the link above and ask for his support on this all important legislation as well.

Yes! You can be an MS Activist too!

2009-06-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Every Day, Thousands of MS Activists are taking action on issues that affect us all in Government! You can join their effort.

Your legislators need to hear from you!

Also, contact the Georgia Chapter at 678-672-1000 and learn about the Capitol Action Squad. As a member you will receive specific training on Federal and State issues and opportunities to personally meet with your legislators and tell them your experiences as someone living with MS.

Let's make MS-related issues a top priority and not a forgotten one! Sign up and take action today!

Drastic cuts to Medicaid pending! Contact DCH today!

2009-05-28T07:48:00.001-07:00

Georgia’s Department of Community Health has proposed drastic payment reductions (80 percent of 2007 levels) for injectable drugs administered in physician offices and hospital outpatient clinics. This will dramatically limit patient access to important drugs and physicians who can treat them. Among the types of drugs that the state will limit access to as a result are cancer (oncology), diabetes, kidney, arthritis, lupus and MS. The changes have the potential to affect tens of thousands of Georgia patients and prevent them from getting timely and life-saving, life-maintaining care. This has a drastic effect on patients who are administered Tysabri through their doctor's offices.

We need your help in contacting the DCH and asking them not to make this change.

What you need to know:

· Georgia’s Department of Community Health has proposed drastic payment reductions (20%) for injectable drugs administered in physician offices and hospital outpatient clinics. This will dramatically limit patient access to important drugs and physicians who can treat them.

· The changes have the potential to affects tens of thousands of Georgia patients and prevent them from getting timely and life-saving, life-maintaining care, particularly for MS patients who utilize Medicaid to access Tysabri.

· Limiting access to the most-needy populations will lead to more costly health problems.

- These cuts have the effect of reducing access because doctors and hospitals cannot afford to remain open or make available types of treatments and therapies if they cannot be paid sufficiently.

· There is high likelihood that a patient may now no longer get their treatments their doctors or local hospital / clinic because they will no longer store and dispense those drugs because they cannot cover the costs. Patients (aged, blind, disabled and children) will be forced to find new and likely more distant options to get treatments. Given their health and age limitations, this will result in serious barriers to access.

· Georgia is not the first state to attempt going down this route. However, the other states that have tried this have faced significant backlash from their patients and decreases in the availability of medical care overall as a result.

Please help the Georgia Chapter by submitting a letter to the Department of Community Health, letting them know how this affects you as someone living with MS, no later than June 4. Letters should be mailed to the

Board of Community Health
Post Office Box 1966
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

Letters can also be faxed to the Board of Community Health at (404) 651-6880.

Phone calls will not be included on the public record.

Thank you so much for everything you do as an MS Activist

Sen. Adelman and Congressman Lewis honored!

2009-05-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

(Pictured L-R: Public Policy and Programs Manager Kyle Pinion, Federal Government Relations Manager Kim Cantor, Outreach Coordinator for Congressman John Lewis Benjamin Spears, Georgia Chapter GRC Chair Max Lehmann, State Senator David Adelman)

On May 16th at the Political Side of Living with MS luncheon, the Georgia Chapter honored both Congressman John Lewis as the Chapter's 2009 Congressman of the Year, and Senator David Adelman as the Chapter's 2009 State Legislator of the Year.

Their respective leadership in the United States Congress and Georgia General Assembly has been second to none and has helped lead to MS research funding advances, awareness of the need for SSDI/Medicare reforms, and protection for biological research.

We at the Georgia Chapter salute these leaders on both the Federal and State level that are helping to create a world free of MS and thank them for their tireless efforts on our behalf!

President Obama wants to hear from you!

2009-04-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

From our friends at the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities:

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities would like to encourage the community to turn out for these post-election listening tours being sponsored by the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign committee. We would love a presence representative of the diverse community of people with disabilities.

Click on the link to check the dates and locations.
WHAT: Listening Tour Town Halls
WHEN: April 23-May 16
WHERE: http://ga.barackobama.com/ListeningTourGA

If you can't attend a Town Hall, please click on the link, complete and submit.http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/ltsurvey

Your ideas will be used to write a Georgia-specific plan for Organizing for America in 2009 and beyond.

Ask your U.S. Senators to support MS Research!

2009-04-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

We need your support for continued MS research through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).

Last year, MS activists reached a new milestone and helped secure $5 million for MS research in FY 2009 under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The CDMRP is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that is funded annually via the Defense Appropriations Act. Let’s take the next step together and help secure more funding for MS research under the CDMRP. Ask your Senators to support a $15 million appropriation under the CDMRP that will help scientists to better understand the causes of MS and help find a cure. The large number of grant proposals recently submitted to the DoD for MS projects indicate that there is a clear need for more funding for MS research.

Take Action Now!

Call Senator Isakson’s and Chambliss’ Washington, D.C. offices to talk about this issue. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 to be connected.

When you speak with your Senators or their staff tell them that you are making a timely request for the FY 2010 defense appropriations bill. Ask them to sign on to a Dear Colleague letter requesting $15 million for MS research funding under the CDMRP. This letter is being circulated by Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Jim Bunning (KY) in the Senate.

Talking points for your call
- Preliminary evidence suggests that Gulf War veterans could have an increased risk of MS. The evidence includes a study in the Annals of Neurology that identifies 5,345 cases of MS among veterans deemed “service-connected,” which represents a significant increase from previous studies.

- An epidemiologic study found an unexpected, two-fold increase in MS between 1993 and 2000 in Kuwait, which suggests neurotoxin exposure as a potential environmental trigger for MS.
More than 28,000 veterans with MS were enrolled with the Veterans Health Administration between 1998 and 2003.

- The VA currently is funding two MS Centers of Excellence to provide clinical care and education. Physicians at those institutions published a professional hypothesis that Gulf War veterans are at an increased risk for MS due to exposure to neurotoxins.
An advisory committee commissioned by the VA recently recommended further study into the potential link between combat service and the increased risk of developing MS. By studying this population, scientists might be able to understand the cause and triggers of MS and develop effective treatments.

- The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program that funds high-risk, high-reward research. This nimble program takes prudent measures to ensure that none of its work duplicates or unnecessarily overlaps that done by other research organizations such as the National Institutes of Health.

- In FY 2008, MS was listed as a topic area eligible to compete with other diseases for funding through DoD’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). This was the first time MS was ever listed in the program. The DoD received 108 grant applications for MS funding of which the DoD was able to fund three. Other diseases eligible to compete for PRMRP funding averaged 41 applications per disease area. These numbers help illustrate the unmet need of research funding for MS.

Please help us create a world free of MS and help support this all too important research!

Thank you so much for everything you do as an MS Activist!

Generic Biologics Legislation introduced in the Senate!

2009-04-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and David Vitter (R-LA) announced Thursday [March 26] that they have reached agreement on bipartisan legislation to create an approval pathway for generic versions of biologic drugs. The measure, which was endorsed in President Obama’s budget proposal, would save federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid at least $10 billion dollars by bringing needed competition to the marketplace.

Please contact Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson and ask that they support this legislation!

Contact Senator Chambliss
Contact Senator Isakson

Ask Governor Perdue to support HB 261 as amended!

2009-03-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

Senate Bill (SB) 25 which was intended to create a voluntary tax check-off for the National MS Society – Georgia Chapter’s Financial Assistance program has now been amended by Senator Valencia Seay into House Bill (HB) 261; which while initially creating a one time home-buyer’s tax credit, will also now create the National MS Society tax check-off to allow tax-payers to donate a portion or all of their tax return the National MS Society Georgia Chapter’s Financial Assistance Program, which is used to provide needed Home and Auto Modifications, as well as Durable Medical Equipment for MS patients in need throughout the state.

This bill has been passed by both the House and Senate in Georgia but is in danger of not being made into law without your help!!

Please contact Governor Perdue’s office at 404-656-1776 or at the following link:

www.gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/

and convey to them the following message:

“I’m a constituent of Governor Perdue’s here in (name of town), Georgia and I’m calling to ask that the Governor please support HB 261 which will allow state taxpayers an easy way to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s fight to create a world free of MS, support easier access to Durable Medical Equipment to people living with MS that cannot afford it, and spread awareness of a cause that means a lot to me.”

Thank you so much for everything you do as an MS Activist, we absolutely could not do this without your incredible efforts!

Help secure 15 Million Dollars for MS Research!!

2009-03-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

Last year, MS activists reached a new milestone and helped secure $5 million for MS research in FY 2009 under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The CDMRP is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that is funded annual via the Defense Appropriations Act.

Let’s take the next step together and help secure more funding for MS research under the CDMRP. Ask your members of Congress to support a $15 million appropriation under the CDMRP that will help scientists to better understand the causes of MS and help find a cure. The large number of grant proposals recently submitted to the DoD for MS projects indicate that there is a clear need for more funding for MS research.

Take Action Now!

Call your legislators’ Washington, D.C. office to talk about this issue. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 to be connected.
Click here to follow up with a quick e-mail to your Senators and Representative.
Now is the perfect time to reinforce the message that MS activists took to Capitol Hill during the Public Policy Conference last week.

Background and Talking Points

When you speak with your legislator or their staff tell them that you are making a timely request for the FY 2010 defense appropriations bill.

Ask them to sign on to a Dear Colleague letter requesting $15 million for MS research funding under the CDMRP. This letter is being circulated by Congressmen Russ Carnahan (MO) and Michael Burgess, MD (TX) in the House of Representatives and Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Jim Bunning (KY) in the Senate.

-Preliminary evidence suggests that Gulf War veterans could have an increased risk of MS. The evidence includes a study in the Annals of Neurology that identifies 5,345 cases of MS among veterans deemed “service-connected,” which represents a significant increase from previous studies.
-An epidemiologic study found an unexpected, two-fold increase in MS between 1993 and 2000 in Kuwait, which suggests neurotoxin exposure as a potential environmental trigger for MS.
-More than 28,000 veterans with MS were enrolled with the Veterans Health Administration between 1998 and 2003. The VA currently is funding two MS Centers of Excellence to provide clinical care and education. Physicians at those institutions published a professional hypothesis that Gulf War veterans are at an increased risk for MS due to exposure to neurotoxins.
-An advisory committee commissioned by the VA recently recommended further study into the potential link between combat service and the increased risk of developing MS. By studying this population, scientists might be able to understand the cause and triggers of MS and develop effective treatments.
-The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program that funds high-risk, high-reward research. This nimble program takes prudent measures to ensure that none of its work duplicates or unnecessarily overlaps that done by other research organizations such as the National Institutes of Health.
-In FY 2008, MS was listed as a topic area eligible to compete with other diseases for funding through DoD’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). This was the first time MS was ever listed in the program. The DoD received 108 grant applications for MS funding of which the DoD was able to fund three. Other diseases eligible to compete for PRMRP funding averaged 41 applications per disease area.
-These numbers help illustrate the unmet need of research funding for MS.

Many U.S. veterans have relevant stories and symptoms of MS. The DoD has an obligation to fund research for diseases related to military service. This research would benefit not only our veterans, but would help us move closer to a world free of MS.

Ask your State Representative to support SB 25!!!

2009-03-16T07:52:00.001-07:00

We had a very big victory last week in the passage of SB 25 on the Senate Floor by a vote of 51-0, but our efforts are not over yet...

Now SB 25, which will create a voluntary tax check off for the National MS Society's Financial Assistance program on individual tax payer forms, will be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee before what we hope will be a final vote in the State House.

PLEASE, contact your State Representatives and ask that they support SB 25 sponsored by Senator Valencia Seay!

You can find your State Representative's contact information at www.congress.org by entering your zip code, and looking under "Governor and State Legislators".

Thank you for everything you do as an MS Activist!!

How does the Economic Recovery Package effect you?

2009-02-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

On February 17th president Barack Obama signed a $787 billion dollar piece of legislation called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill is intended to create or save millions of jobs and extend insurance benefits for millions of unemployed workers. Additionally, millions will go to energy efficiency programs and investment in renewable energy sources.

But how will the legislation affect people will MS?

Various health programs will recieve federal funding, the breakdown is as follows:

1.) Additional funding for NIH: $10 billion to the National Institutes of Health for biomedical research and facilities improvements.

2.) Health Information Technology (HIT): $19 billion in funding to modernize the health care system by adopting new technological standards, which includes privacy and security laws for consumer protection. 3.) Medicaid/Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP): $87 billion over the next two years to help states maintain their Medicaid programs.

3.) COBRA Insurance: Expansion of coverage including a 65 percent subsidy covering premiums for up to 9 months.

4.) Aid to Seniors, Disabled and SSI Recipients: $250 to retirees, disabled individuals and SSI recipients receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs.

5.) Vocational Rehabilitation: $500 million for state grants to help persons living with disabilities prepare for gainful employment. Many of the new or expanded health care programs included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act seeks to make affordable and quality health care an integral part of overall economic growth and recovery.

Ask your State Senator to support SB 25!!

2009-02-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Senate Bill 25 has recently been introduced into the Georgia General Assembly's legislative session. This bill would provide Georgia taxpayers the opportunity to donate a portion or all of their state tax refund to the National MS Society - Georgia Chapter's financial assistance program.

This program assists hundreds and hundreds of our clients each year in obtaining needed home and auto modifications, as well as necessary durable medical equipment, all of which is intended to help create a more accessible environment for everyday living.

The bill is currently awaiting to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee, and can use all the support it can get. Please do not hesistate to contact your elected State Senator and ask they support SB 25!!

Reminder!! VOTE in the runoff election!!

2008-12-01T14:02:00.001-08:00

This is just a reminder to vote in tomorrow's runoff election!!

You can find information about your polling place at the following site from the Secretary of State:
http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocator/PollLocator.aspx

It's very important that you make your voice heard in this runoff race for a seat in the United States Senate!!

All eyes have been on our great state these past few weeks...So get out and make it happen...let's impress the nation with a great turnout from the MS community in Georgia!!

VICTORY!!! New Avenue for MS Research secured!

2008-09-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to your help and activism, we are proud to announce that multiple sclerosis has been awarded a new $5 million research program within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This is a tremendous victory and is the first time that multiple sclerosis has ever received its own line item for funding under the CDMRP.

The CDMRP is a program funded through the defense bill, which is currently attached to the Continuing Resolution (CR) that Congress passed over the weekend. The final step is the signature of President Bush, who is expected to sign early this week.

This movement is an example of the power of advocacy and the influence of a grassroots campaign. MS activists worked to steer this issue in the right direction and had confidence in the bold request for millions of dollars to establish a new program. Every activist played an important role in gaining this new ground, whether it was being a voice at a congressional meeting during the Public Policy Conference, being featured in the media, headlining informational briefings on Capitol Hill, participating in local town hall forums, or even testifying before Congress. The Society owes a great deal of thanks to the other organizations that helped petition Congress for this new research funding.

Those joining us in advocating for the new funding included: American Academy of Neurology, Paralyzed Veterans of America, United Spinal, AMVETs, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans.Please join us in celebrating this enormous success. Without your dedication and participation, the establishment of a new avenue of research funding for MS would not be possible.

Thank you for being one of our valuable MS activists.

Contact your Congressman for increased research funding!!!

2008-09-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

This week, Congress is expected to consider legislation that will continue to fund the Federal government at 2008 funding levels until early 2009. The legislation is called a Continuing Resolution (CR) and will enable programs to operate at current levels until the 111th Congress convenes after the New Year.

Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 regular appropriations bills for FY2009, which will begin on October 1. However, it is likely that they will attach the FY2009 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill to the CR.

This year, MS activists have been working to secure specific funding for MS research under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The CDMRP is a program within the DoD and is funded annually through the defense appropriations bill. This means that there is still time to secure MS research funding under the CDMRP for FY2009.

Please take a moment to call your Members of Congress today to help secure MS research funding. Ask them to support $15 million for MS research funding under the CDMRP in the defense bill, to be included in the CR. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 to be connected with your Representative and Senators.

You can use these talking points and background when you speak with your Member of Congress:
-MS is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system and is generally diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, the prime of life.

-The cause of MS is still unknown, the symptoms are unpredictable, and there is no cure.

-Preliminary evidence suggests that Gulf War veterans could have an increased risk of MS. I'd like to ask for your support for $15 million for MS research funding in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) to be included in the Continuing Resolution (CR).

- More than 28,000 veterans being treated in the VHA are living with a diagnosis of MS.
A recent study in the Annals of Neurology identified more than 5,000 cases of MS among U.S. veterans that were deemed "service-connected."

- A study found an unexpected, doubling of MS between 1993 and 2000 in Kuwait, which suggests a potential environmental trigger for MS because of exposure to neurotoxins such as burning oil fields and poison gases. The Department of Defense has an obligation to fund research for diseases related to military service.

- This research would benefit our veterans and would help move us closer to a world free of MS.

The Governor seeks your input on transportation...

2008-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

IT3 Website Goes Live, September Listening Tour Announced

ATLANTA— Governor Sonny Perdue and state transportation leaders today launched the Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today (IT3) website – www.IT3.GA.Gov.
The site will provide all Georgians an opportunity to give input on a major transportation initiative that state leaders will propose in the coming months.“Through IT3, we will transform Georgia’s transportation system,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Working together, the State Transportation Board, GDOT and GRTA are listening to the concerns and desires of the public, our elected officials, the business community and other interested groups. With this input,we will shape a comprehensive and effective strategy for addressing Georgia’s transportation needs.”To give Georgians a chance to speak directly with state transportation leaders regarding the IT3 initiative, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)Commissioner Gena Abraham and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Executive Director Dick Anderson will hold listening sessions across thestate.

The listening tour will be held during the week of September 22 in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta.“The website will provide regular updates of our work on IT3 as well as the opportunity for members of the public to share information that will help usshape Georgia’s transportation strategy,” said Commissioner Abraham. “We encourage everyone to visit the site, learn about IT3 and its goals, and to letus know their ideas for keeping Georgia’s transportation network the best in the nation.”“We are committed to listening to the public’s concerns and ideas,” Anderson added. “In addition to meeting with community leaders throughout the state,Commissioner Abraham and I will visit cities around the state to hear, in person, what our citizens feel should be our strategic priorities.”

The Listening tour schedule is:
Monday, September 22, 4 -7 p.m., Macon, Commissioner Abraham
Tuesday, September 23, 4-7 p.m., Savannah, Commissioner Abraham, Mr. Anderson
Wednesday, September 24, noon – 2 p.m., Dalton, Commissioner Abraham, Mr. Anderson
Wednesday, September 24, 4-7 p.m., Atlanta, Commissioner Abraham, Mr. Anderson
Thursday, September 25, noon – 2 p.m., Valdosta, Mr. Anderson
Thursday, September 25, 4-7 p.m., Columbus, Mr. Anderson
Friday, September 26, noon – 2 p.m., Augusta, Mr. Anderson
Specific locations in each city will be announced in early September.

Help fight cuts to disability services!

2008-08-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of our partner organizations...The Atlanta Alliance for Developmental Disabilities/Unlock the waiting lists sent out the following action alert:

RIGHT NOW, HELP US ASK DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO SAY NO TO CUTS TO NEW AND EXISTING DD SERViCES, the 3% RATE INCREASE, AND TO DISABILITY TRAINING!

As Unlock informed you in an earlier action alert last week, Governor Perdue has ordered the Department of Human Resources to reduce their current year’s FY09 budget by 6% which translates to $92 million.

DHR’s Board met on August 20th to review the proposed cuts. These cuts could be a permanent step backwards for Georgia. Among other things, the cuts include important funding for unlocking services for persons with disabilities, a much needed 3% rate increase for DD providers, and funding for the disability training of professionals and families.

Georgia has over 6,160 people with developmental disabilities currently on community waiting lists. The waiting lists grow every year by over 1,000 people because individuals and families fall into crisis, or caregivers pass away. Over 700 students age out of the school system every year, needing supports. The multi-year funding plan called for 2,500 services last year, and we received only 500. This year the plan also calls for 2,500, and the current budget proposal includes only the 150 MRWP services we need to meet the requirement of the Money Follows Person initiative.

WE NEED YOUR HELP CONTACTING THE DHR COMMISSIONER AND THE DHR BOARD BY AUGUST 29TH!

RIGHT NOW, ASK THEM TO SAY NO TO CUTS TO NEW AND EXISTING DD SERViCES, the 3% RATE INCREASE, AND TO DISABILITY TRAINING!
TO ACT, GO TO http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html

The Georgia Chapter needs your voice!!

2008-08-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked, "what can I do to make a difference for the MS community in the state?"

The Georgia Chapter is pleased to answer that question.

With our new Volunteer-based Advocacy Program, you can take a full stakes involvement in our advocacy efforts.

We are looking for Volunteers in three critical fields...

MS ACTIVIST
MS Activists contact legislators on important public policy issues. They call, e-mail or write in response to periodic request for action sent by the National MS Society. These requests include background information on the issues, clear instructions and sample communication to help members take action. Members receive ongoing information that keeps them informed about the issues and helps them develop their advocacy skills.

ISSUE AMBASSADOR
Issue Ambassadors make personal visits to their legislators, in addition to their work as MS Advocates. The National MS Society provides in-depth training and continuing support for this rewarding work.

STORY BANK CONTRIBUTOR
Story Bank Contributors share their personal stories with the National MS Society. This helps the Society record the challenges encountered by real people in accessing health care or other important services. With permission from the contributor, the stories are used as supporting documentation for lawmakers introducing bills or to raise awareness about the issues through the media.

For more information, contact Public Policy and Program Manager, Kyle Pinion at 678-672-1000 or kyle.pinion@nmssga.org

Thank you for your interest in becoming an MS Activist!

Working to fight the Medicare cuts!

2008-07-22T13:42:00.001-07:00

The Georgia Chapter is very pleased and excited to announce that we have been able to successfully do our part to not only gain Georgia's Senator's support for the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331), but to also override the Presidential veto of that same bill.

A main focus of the bill was to prevent the 10.6% pay cut to doctors - now replaced with a 0.5% update for the remainder of 2008 - but it also enacted several other key provisions important to people living with MS, such as:
-An 18-month delay of the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Competitive Bidding Program
-An 18-month extension of the outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps exceptions process until December 31, 2009
-and Low-income programs that will help more people with Medicare living below or just above the poverty level ($867 per month for an individual) get help with their drug costs and medical bills.
More specifically, the bill also delays Round 2 of the Competitive Bidding Program until 2011 in order to allow stakeholders to address the impact and efficiency of Round 1; exempts complex rehabilitation wheelchairs from the competitive bidding program in order to protect access to and quality of these devices; and, establishes a competitive bidding ombudsman at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to monitor inquiries and concerns.

This is a major victory for Georgia's Medicare beneficiaries, and we absolutely encourage that you contact Senators Isakson and Chambliss to thank them for your vote and continue to voice your concerns to their office.

Victory in DC! New MS Caucus members!

2008-06-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Chapter is very proud to announce three new MS Caucus members for the first ever MS Caucus in the United States Congress.

In the House of Representatives our Georgia Membership now includes:
John Lewis
Hank Johnson
Jim Marshall
David Scott

And in the MS Caucus in the United States Senate, we have our first Georgia Senator to join in Senator Johnny Isakson.

We are very honored that these members of Congress have elected to join this first of its kind caucus. As early as yesterday, the MS Caucus in the House held a meeting briefing members on MS and the needs of the MS community.

We welcome these elected officials with open arms. Please take the time to thank these legislators and express your concerns about your community with them, they are here to serve you!

Another successful Public Policy Conference

2008-05-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

On May 6-8, representatives from the Georgia Chapter visited Washington DC to lobby for Federal reform on multiple issues that impact the multiple sclerosis community.

The Georgia Chapter lobbied for the following:

1. A 15 million dollar research appropriation that would be used to determine the connection between MS and Gulf War service.

2. The elimination of the 24-month Medicare waiting period for SSDI recipients.

3. The establishment of a National MS Registry, that would finally give a defined number of how many Americans are living with MS.

The Georgia Chapter also took this opportunity to try and recruit more members from Georgia's Congressional Delegation to join the MS Caucus in Congress.

The Chapter met with 9 members of Georgia's delegation, including Congressman John Lewis, MS Caucus member Jim Marshall, and Senator Johnny Isakson.

All of our reform platform was met with a warm reception, and as the Georgia Chapter continues to work on these issues with these offices, we look forward to bringing good news for the MS Community of Georgia. We are hopeful that all of our initiatives will see positive movement in the coming year.

A call for help!!! Call your Senators!!!

2008-04-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to your efforts, four Georgia Congressmen in the United States House of Representatives have signed onto a “Dear Colleague Letter” that will seek a $15 million dollar appropriation for MS Research through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).

We are now seeking your assistance in getting Georgia’s Senators to sign onto the Senate version of this letter.

Please visit the following link:
http://capwiz.com/nmss/issues/alert/?alertid=11158036
And help us secure Georgia’s Senators support for this ever important cause.

You can also contact your Senators’ offices today at 1-800-828-0498 and ask to be connected to the office of either Senator Johnny Isakson or Senator Saxby Chambliss.

When you speak with your Senators' offices, ask them to sign on to the Dear Colleague Letter being circulated by Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Jim Bunning (KY). This letter requests that $15 million be provided for MS research through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The deadline to sign on is April 9, 2008.

Thank you for being an MS Activist!

Legislative Update!

2008-03-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations!

Today is Crossover Day in the Georgia General Assembly, and many different bills and issues are currently being debated and voted upon. Unfortunately, Healthcare is not one of the bigger concerns in this year's session, outside of Trauma Care.

With that said, I implore you: as a Georgia Voter as well as an MS Activist, please visit the following link: https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=223&JServSessionIdr005=u39yvfdqc2.app306a
and let your elected representatives know about the need to establish a High Risk Insurance Pool in this state to help alleviate the over 1.7 million uninsured population throughout Georgia.

We need your voice to enact positive change for the entire MS Community, as this Thursday March 13 is MS Awareness Day in the State of Georgia, make yourself and your concern for MS-related issues heard!!!

For more information about activism and what you can do, contact Kyle Pinion, Public Policy and Programs Manager of the National MS Society - Georgia Chapter at 678-672-1000, or at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org.

Two Georgia Congressmen join the MS Caucus!

2008-01-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

MS Advocates in the 3rd and 11th Congressional Districts can pat themselves on the back today as their Congressmen in the United States House of Representatives have officially joined the MS Caucus. As of last week, both Congressmen Jim Marshall and Hank Johnson are the two newest members of this ever growing Caucus.

The MS Caucus provides you, as an MS activist, with champions in Congress to count on for leadership and support of MS issues. It will help bolster our advocacy efforts and give us an even more effective presence on Capitol Hill.

This Caucus is the first of its kind.

The Georgia Chapter is thrilled with the enthusiasm, experience and leadership that both Congressmen Johnson and Marshall will bring to the MS Caucus. Now, we need your help to recruit additional members of Congress to join the MS Caucus and the MS movement.

If Congressmen Johnson and Marshall are your Representatives, contact them and their staff, thank them for their willingness to help create a world free of MS, and tell them about issues that impact you as a person living with MS. If your Congressman hasn't joined yet, go to the following web address: http://capwiz.com/nmss/dbq/officials and enter your zip code, and ask your Elected Representative to join today.

Looking forward to 2008

2008-01-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

From the Public Policy Office:

2007 was a year of tough fights, but we have many successes to celebrate. Thanks to your hard work and MS activism, we opened up a new funding stream for MS research in the Department of Defense and built a new bi-partisan Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus on Capitol Hill. But we still have a great deal of work to do in 2008:

MS treatments remain very costly and out of reach for too many people.

Too many important federal agencies continue to be under funded, such as the NIH, CDC, SSA, and the Food and Drug Administration.

Stem cell research in the federal arena has made progress, but we have not yet reached our goal of advancing it potential through expanded federal funding.

We must eliminate discrimination against people living with disabilities by passing the ADA Restoration Act.

To accomplish these goals in 2008, we must continue to inform members of Congress about MS and related policies. In 2007, you sent nearly 100,000 emails to your legislators. Some MS activists sent 40, 60, even 80 messages about MS issues. One man took action 100 times—now that's MS activism. Make a resolution to reach out to your public officials even more this year. MS activists are among the most passionate and effective grassroots groups in the country. Thank you. We are confident that your efforts will continue to make better public policy for people living with MS and their families. We'll keep you updated on hot issues and policies that need your attention in the coming year.

Are you registered to vote???

2007-12-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

Your Vote in the 2008 Presidential Primaries Could Help Support MS Issues!!!

The 2008 Presidential Primary Elections will begin in January. If you are not already registered to vote, now is the time. Many state deadlines for voter registration start in December. Click here for the voter registration deadline in Georgia: www.vote411.org

As a nonprofit organization, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is nonpartisan and does not endorse any political candidates. We do encourage all legislators to join the movement and support issues that will help move us closer to a world free of MS and other disabilities.

Voting in the primary and general elections is one way to help advance MS issues. The Society's priority MS issues include:

Increased MS research
Disability rights
Access to quality health care
Increased long-term care resources
Accessible, affordable insurance

Thank you for voting and for being an MS activist. Join the movement at www.nationalMSsociety.org/advocacy

Disability Day Date announced! Save the Date!!!

2007-11-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!

Thursday, February 21st will be Disability Day at the Capitol!!

This event, sponsored by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, is a unique chance for our clients and staff to meet with the lawmakers who shape Georgia's Public Policy and Healthcare climate.

The event itself begins at 9:30 am and will wrap at 1 pm. The Georgia Chapter wiil be scheduling visits with a number of our local legislators throughout the day.

If you are interested in attending this event with us, and joining this wonderful rally at the Capitol, please contact me at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org

Ask the President not to veto NIH funding, including funding for MS Research!

2007-11-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

President Bush is planning to veto a bill that includes critical healthcare funding for MS research at the National Institutes of Health and for a new comprehensive MS center. Click here to send President Bush a quick email. Or, if you prefer, you can call the White House switchboard at (202) 456-1414 to deliver your message.

Ask the president not to veto the Labor-HHS-Education bill (H.R. 3043) and to approve funding for multiple sclerosis research.

Tell the president that this bill brings too much hope to people living with MS and to caregivers to justify a veto.

About the Legislation

Your MS activism has helped bring more recognition for MS in the FY 2008 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill (known has Labor-HHS). Congress has incorporated nearly $4 million in funding in the bill for the development of a multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disease research center at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va. This first comprehensive center for MS research and care in West Virginia holds great promise for people living with MS not only in the state but nationwide.

In addition to this specific funding for MS, the Labor-HHS bill includes a 3.1% increase for the NIH, a 6% increase for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and $2 million for state respite care grants authorized by the Lifespan Respite Care Act (which MS activists helped pass last year).

Ask President Bush not to veto this bill and to support important funding increases for NIH and MS research.

Issues on the Horizon...

2007-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hello! I hope you are all enjoying this most lovely October weather!

As we come closer and closer to the start of our new legislative session in Georgia, it becomes highly important that we make our voices and issues heard.

Based upon our conversations with you at events, programs and at our office, we have found that there are two outstanding problems in the state of Georgia that affect our client base the highest.

1. The lack of insurance coverage for people who are considered "high-risk" or "uninsurable", even though they can afford insurance coverage.

and

2. The lack of affordable and adequate Long Term Care for people who are in need of this service.

At the Georgia Chapter, we are making these two issues top priority for the upcoming session. We will be collaborating with members of the Georgia General Assembly to come up with possible solutions that will benefit our clients state-wide.

With that in mind, please feel free to submit your story. It's one thing if we speak to a representative with just facts and figures, it's another if we go in with personal accounts of how these two major issues have affected our clients' quality of life.

We want to be able to create maximum impact.

If you have a story detailing your attempts to become insured in the state of Georgia and being unable to do so, or a story about your struggles to obtain Long-Term Care in the state...Email me at kyle.pinion@nmssga.org. I will contact you back with a waiver form for permission to share your story with the State Representatives and Senators that we speak to. Your story can also remain completely anonymous if you wish.

Please do not delay in contacting me, the sooner we have these stories compiled, the quicker we can take your concerns to your elected officials in the Georgia General Assembly.

What's next for MS Research Funding?

2007-09-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

From our Public Policy Office!

Summary of MS Activism in Support of MS Research Funding
Where We Are and Where We're Headed

Throughout the past year, MS activists and the National MS Society have been aggressively pursuing a new avenue of federal funding for multiple sclerosis research. We have focused on a $15 million appropriation through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD) in the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill. This would serve as a new source of funding for MS research, and complement existing efforts at the National Institutes of Health.

As this issue has danced through the legislative process this year, you have probably received many MS Action Alerts asking for you to encourage support from your Representative and Senators. You might have even sent a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. MS activists like you have worked hard to advance this issue on many levels. As promised, we want to keep you updated on the progress. The Federal Focus this month is dedicated to outlining where we are on this issue, how far we have come, and what you can do now.

About CDMRP
First created in 1992, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is housed in the Department of Defense. Congress first created the program, at the behest of grassroots advocacy organizations, to fund research on the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer among military woman. Since then, CDMRP's focus has expanded to incorporate research on nearly 20 diseases and conditions, such as ALS, post traumatic stress disorder, and tuberous sclerosis. CDMRP is a unique and nimble program that funds high-risk, high-reward research that complements the work conducted at the NIH. It only makes sense that CDMRP also explore multiple sclerosis research.

Why MS Research?
Preliminary evidence suggests that combat veterans could have an increased risk of developing MS. A recent study in the Annals of Neurology identified 5,345 cases of MS among U.S. veterans that were deemed "service-connected," and more than 25,000 veterans currently receiving treatment through the VHA have a diagnosis of MS. In addition, an epidemiological study found an unexpected, two-fold increase in MS between 1993 and 2000 among residents of Kuwait, which suggests an environmental trigger for MS.

"MS is a disease that is most likely triggered by one or several environmental insults ... Exposures unique to [Gulf War] theater may have increased GW veterans' riskfor developing MS."
- research hypothesis from Dr. Mitch Wallin,neurologist who treats veterans with MS at the Department of Veterans Affairs' MS Center of Excellence in Baltimore

The Society is basing the request for MS research funding in the CDMRP on this and other compelling evidence. Funding MS research at DoD should be a priority for serving those who served us. But the work could benefit all Americans who live with multiple sclerosis. Read more background on this issue.

MS Activists in Action
At the end of 2006, the National MS Society began a petition drive to help urge Congress to support funding for MS research through the CDMRP. It was our first step in pursuing this new avenue of research. The goal was to collect as many signatures as possible to demonstrate the overwhelming support for MS research across the country. With your help, the petition successfully garnered more than 100,000 signatures nationwide.

In March 2007, MS activists who attended the annual MS Public Policy Conference in Washington, DC, brought this issue to Capitol Hill. They met with Representatives and Senators, and asked them to show their support by signing a House and Senate version of a "Dear Colleague" letter, respectively. The letters were directed at each chamber's Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. MS activists gave their legislators a CD of all 100,000 petition signatures to show the nationwide attention to this issue. The visits resulted in 20 Representatives and 21 Senators signing their respective letters.

Since then, the MS Action Network has been alive with calls for action. Each time the issue has changed course in Congress, it has needed your emails, telephone calls, and in-person visits with legislators. So far, MS activists have taken action more than 19,000 times on this issue alone.

Congressional Activity
The Defense appropriation for MS research funding has seen a lot of Congressional movement since its inception. Following is a summary of activity in the House of Representatives and in the Senate...

House Status
Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO) and Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ) spearheaded efforts in support of this issue in the House back in March by sponsoring a "Dear Colleague" letter. Twenty Representatives signed the bi-partisan letter that was then sent to Chairman John Murtha (PA) and Ranking Member C.W. Bill Young (FL) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. This letter made the official request for a $15 million appropriation for MS research through CDMRP at DoD in the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill. The Subcommittee and full Appropriations Committee reported out their Appropriations bill (H.R. 3222), and the House passed this bill on August 5.

"Supplementing current MS research with additional money from the Department of Defense would be a significant step toward providing hope for people with MS."
- Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO)

Unfortunately, H.R. 3222 did not include any funding for MS research. But the MS champions in Congress did not give up. Chairman Murtha finally agreed to work to incorporate at least $10 million in funding during the conference committee, where the House and Senate differences would be worked out. On August 29, Congressman Carnahan began circulating another "Dear Colleague" letter thanking Chairman Murtha for his commitment. Currently, the House is waiting for the Senate to act.

Senate Status
On the Senate side, Senator Barack Obama (IL) and Senator Norm Coleman (MN) spearheaded the MS funding request through their own "Dear Colleague" letter. Twenty-one Senators joined their colleagues in sending the appropriation request to Chairman Daniel Inouye (HI) and Ranking Member Ted Stevens (AK) of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. This Subcommittee currently is crafting their version of the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill. It is anticipated that the Subcommittee will vote on the bill in the second week in September with a full Senate vote scheduled for the end of September.

Once the Senate passes their bill, the House and Senate versions will be conferenced together. We will continue to keep you updated. We are hopeful that through your advocacy efforts and hard work, the Senate will choose to include an appropriation for MS research.

Now What?

You can do two things right now to help keep this issue moving forward in both the House and the Senate:

- Send an email to your Representative asking them to: sign the "Dear Colleague" letter that Congressman Carnahan is circulating. Click here and enter your ZIP code to take action. The letter calls for support of funding for MS research during the DoD Appropriations conference between the House and the Senate. This letter, being sent to Congressman Murtha, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, will help encourage him to keep his commitment to fight and include at least $10 million for MS research in the conference report.

- Send an email to your Senators asking them to: encourage the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense to include the full $15 million for MS research in their version of the DoD Appropriations bill. Click here and enter your ZIP code to take action. This is a critical time to influence the Subcommittee's decisions because they are currently working on crafting the bill.

Thank you for being an MS activist. Join the movement at www.nationalMSsociety.com/advocacy

MS Research Funding will be decided Wednesday...

2007-07-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Contact your Representative!!!!

This is our last chance to help secure a federal appropriation to fund multiple sclerosis research. MS activists have been pushing this for months. Now it's time to make a very important final call.

Call 1-800-828-0498 and ask for your Representative or the staff person who works on appropriations.

Our request for MS research funding unfortunately was not included in the base bill that will be discussed this week in the House of Representatives. However, Congressman Carnahan (MO) is not taking no for an answer and is offering an MS amendment during debate on Wednesday to put MS research funding in the bill. In a final attempt to influence this issue, we are asking all members of Congress to support funding for MS research when Congressman Carnahan offers the MS amendment.

Some points to consider when you call your Representative:
-As a constituent and an MS activist, I'd like to ask for your support of MS research funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. This request was not honored in the Defense appropriation bill.

-But this week Congressman Carnahan will introduce an MS amendment to provide the MS research funding. We need your help by speaking in favor of the MS amendment from the House floor.

-More than 25,000 veterans who are being treated through the VA system have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. And a study published in the Annals of Neurology recently identified more than 5,000 cases of MS among U.S. veterans that were deemed "service-connected."

-More funding is necessary to explore the possibility that something in the environment could trigger this disease among veterans and other Americans.

Call your representative today. There is no time to waste. This new source of funding could help move us closer to a world free of MS.

If you are unsure who your representative is, go to www.congress.org and enter your mailing address and you will be able to access a list of your Representatives on the state and federal levels.