...August 23, 2010 - Feeling overwhelmed
by prescription drug costs?
MS places a heavy burden not only on the finances of people
affected, but also on their quality of life. The disease's
costly therapies often force people to live from paycheck to
paycheck and make impossible choices among the things they want
and need. If this sounds familiar, Congress needs to hear from
you.
The National MS Society needs your support to
pass the
Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act, a bill
designed to give some financial relief for people living with
MS.
This legislation would cap monthly
prescription drug costs; allow exemptions for fourth-tier
specialty drugs, require Medicare to study the impact of drug
cost-sharing and potentially lower co-payments for up to 10% of
Americans with the highest prescription costs.
Contact your
federal legislators to tell them your story and that it is
necessary to pass the Affordable Access to Prescription
Medications Act. Legislators need to realize that the
out-of-pocket expenses for fourth-tier drugs are a burden to the
hundreds of thousands of people living with MS every day.
...August 12, 2010 - New state budget cuts
proposed as FMAP funding falls short
After much debate, Congress approved a $16 billion extension
of FMAP funds for states and a $10 billion education jobs fund
on August 10, but more state budget cuts are on the way in
Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth is slated to receive $600 million
in enhanced FMAP funds for public health and human services,
which is at least $250 million short of the 2010-11 budget that
was passed by the General Assembly.
Governor Ed Rendell announced a plan to cut
an additional $198 million from the budget through a 1.9%
across-the-board cut to programs and a $50 million reduction in
basic education funds. The plan also includes $70 million in new
revenue from a natural gas severance tax and $14 million in cuts
to the legislature, courts and elected officials to make up a
projected $282 million difference in the budget. The budget
includes language holding the General Assembly to an October 1
deadline to pass a severance tax, although there is no agreement
on the structure of the tax. It would go into effect on January
1.
Click here (.pdf) to see how the cuts break down by
Department.
...August 4, 2010 - One step closer to FMAP funds
The U.S. Senate voted this morning to end the debate on a
bill that would provide most of the additional federal Medicaid
funds that state lawmakers anticipated in this year’s state
budget.
The congressional measure will provide Pennsylvania with about
$595 million in welfare funds – about 70 percent of the $850
million state officials had been counting on since the beginning
of the year.
A final vote on the bill is expected to take place on Thursday.
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to adjourn for the month on Friday.
Governor Rendell said during a conference call following the
vote that he is “extremely gratified” that the bill is moving
forward. He added that he expects it to be approved swiftly by
both the U.S. Senate and then U.S. House of Representatives when
that chamber returns to session.
...August 2, 2010
- Pennsylvania to begin
offering health plan for people with pre-existing medical
conditions.
As part of the national health insurance reform, Pennsylvania
this week will open a high-risk insurance program for uninsured
individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, Insurance
Commissioner Joel Ario said today.
"Full federal health reform is still three years away," Ario
said. "In the meantime, we are doing everything we can for
Pennsylvanians to have access to affordable, quality health
care.
"Many uninsured people have been denied affordable coverage and
care due to their health status. Health insurers will be
prohibited from denying coverage or charging sick people more
for insurance in 2014, but people need more options until we get
to that point. So I am very pleased to announce that our
high-risk plan,
PA Fair Care,
will be up and running later this week."
PA Fair Care, administered statewide through a contract with
Highmark Blue Shield, offers a broad range of benefits,
including preventive care, physician services, diagnostic
testing, hospitalization, mental health services and
prescription medications. Subsidized premiums are $283.20 a
month, plus additional co-pays and coinsurance.
The program has initial funding to serve approximately 3,500
individuals. Eligible applicants will be enrolled on a
first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, visit
PAFairCare.com or call, toll-free, 1-888-767-7015.
Applications will be available online after 8:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, August 4.
Eligibility information, answers to frequently-asked questions,
program-related materials and logos are available at
PAFairCare.com.
July 23, 2010 - 20th Anniversary of the ADA
On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights
of people with disabilities. This legislation established a
clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of
discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
The ADA has expanded opportunities for
Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing
perceptions, increasing full participation in community life.
However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if we
remain focused and committed to our efforts for full
implementations of ADA and to advocate for people living with
disabilities.
On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
celebrates and recognizes the progress that has been made by
reaffirming the principals of equality and inclusion and
recommitting our efforts to reach full ADA compliance.
Both the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives and Senate have issued resolutions (click
here for House and
here for Senate) in honor of this anniversary. Governor Ed
Rendell has also written a
proclamation for the occasion. (Note: all files are in PDF
format.)
...July 19, 2010 - Pennsylvania’s 2010-11
budget cuts a wide range of services, while leaving revenue on
the table
Pennsylvania's 2010-11 budget sets state
spending at $28.043 billion, which includes $25.3 billion in
state dollars and $2.75 billion in state fiscal relief provided
by the federal Recovery Act. The spending plan provides a slight
increase over the 2009-10 budget, but still uses fewer state
dollars than were spent in 2006-07.
Funding is increased to meet mandated
expenditures for public health care and corrections and to
maintain investments in education, but the budget offsets those
increases with cuts to numerous other services, including early
childhood services, human service programs, environmental
protection, agricultural programs, libraries and state parks.
Budget cuts are also expected to add to job losses in the public
and private sector.
What does federal FMAP funding mean for
Pennsylvanians?
The 2010-11 budget relies on $850 million in enhanced
federal FMAP funding for public health and human services that
is in jeopardy. Legislation to secure the funding has stalled in
the U.S. Congress. If Congress fails to approve the additional
funding, Governor Rendell and state legislative leaders will
have to identify further cuts to critical human services
including public health care, child protective services, mental
health/mental retardation services and domestic violence
counseling.
Contact Jennifer Strayer at
jennifer.strayer@nmss.org
for more information on specific programs.
...June 17, 2010 - New DOT rule extends
disability protections to passenger ships and boats
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the first
federal rule to specifically provide Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) protections to people with disabilities who travel on
boats and ships. The action comes as the 20th anniversary of the
ADA approaches on July 26.
Read more.
...June 16, 2010 - Rendell appoints
Health Care Reform Implementation Advisory Committee
The Pennsylvania Office of Health Care Reform announced
appointments to a new external advisory group that will help
implement many of the key elements of the federal
health-care reform act. The federal health-care reform act
relies on states to implement important components such as
the high risk pool and the insurance exchange. To ensure
that the expertise of key stakeholders is an integral part
of the reform process, Governor Ed Rendell created the
Commonwealth Health Care Reform Implementation Advisory
Committee by executive order on May 19.
The committee consists of insurance industry executives,
hospital representatives, medical professionals, large and
small purchasers, unions, health and budget policy experts
and consumers. The advisory committee will identify best
practices in health care and provide feedback to the
administration on its findings, recommendations and
strategic plans. The appointment of the committee will help
ensure the smoothest possible implementation between now and
2014, when health-care reform goes into effect. The advisory
panel will hold its first meeting June 30 in Harrisburg.
Each of the four legislative caucuses will select two
members to serve on the committee.
Read
more...
...June 4, 2010 - Help restore
Medicaid relief
MS activists have been successful in helping to prevent
a devastating cut to physicians participating in Medicare
through 2011. Legislation currently being considered in
Congress fortunately prevents this cut, but another vital
provision must be restored.
Call your U.S. senators today and urge them to restore a
six-month extension of increased federal Medicaid assistance
to states. Enter your zip code and you will be provided
talking points. Use the toll-free number 1-888-340-6521 to
be connected with your U.S. Senators.
Medicaid provides health and long-term care coverage to more
than 59 million Americans, including many people living with
disabilities. With the rise in unemployment during troubled
economic times, more Americans rely on Medicaid to help
cover their health-care costs. At the same time of
enrollment growth, state budget pressures swell as revenues
decline.
To help avoid drastic cuts to health services, the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress in 2009
provided significant federal assistance to state-run
Medicaid programs. This fiscal relief prevented harmful
budget cuts, saved jobs and protected the health-care
coverage of those in need. The economic situation remains
dire, however, and since states are currently planning their
FY 2011 budgets, Congress must take immediate action to
extend federal Medicaid assistance.
There is great support for extending federal Medicaid
assistance. In March, the Senate passed a six-month
extension of the Recovery Act's enhanced federal Medicaid
match. The House just passed a similar bill, but the
Medicaid provision was removed. It is up to the Senate to
quickly correct this omission.
Call your U.S. senators today and urge them to
immediately restore and pass the six-month extension of the
increased federal Medicaid assistance. Use the toll-free
number 1-888-340-6521 to be connected with your U.S.
Senators.
...May 3, 2010 - Legislators come
out to Walk MS
Walk MS 2010 drew crowds of thousands of walkers and
volunteers over the past two weekends. It also drew local
legislators to come speak. Senators and congress people came
out to let our participants know that we all need to speak
up for change and that they are always open to suggestions
and concerns from their constituents.

Congressman Bob Brady pledged
his ongoing support for people living with MS at the Walk MS
event at the Philadelphia Art Museum on May 2.