...December 27, 2011 - Join us at the Public Policy Conference in our nation's capital
The 2012 Public Policy Conference, slated for March 5-7 at our nation’s capital, promises to be an exciting, energizing and engaging three days, and you're invited to join us!

We're people living with MS or family members of people with MS to represent our chapter in Washington, D.C. this year. We will pay 100% of the cost of the trip. Previous advocacy experience isn't required; all that's necessary is a willingness to tell your story and a desire to make a difference for people living with MS.

We'll be selecting this year's participants through an essay contest. Click here to fill out the online application. A committee of volunteer activists, board members and staff will be reviewing the essays. The deadline to apply is January 21.

While we can't pay for everyone, we would love to have as many people as possible come along. If you'd like to come and pay for your trip, or if you have any questions, please contact Karen Mariner at karen.mariner@nmss.org or 215-271-1500.
 

...September 19, 2011 - New rule strengthens protections for Americans with disabilities at rail stations

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that individuals with disabilities will have greater access to intercity, commuter and high-speed train travel as a result of a new rule requiring new station platform construction or significant renovation to enable those with disabilities to get on and off any car on a train.

“This will help give passengers with disabilities better access to rail travel across the country,” said LaHood. “By putting this protection in place, passengers with disabilities will be able to get on and off any accessible car that is available to passengers at a new or altered station platform.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is amending its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to require intercity, commuter and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure, at new and significantly renovated station platforms, that passengers with disabilities can get on and off any accessible car of the train. Passenger railroads must provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations.

Click here to learn more (pdf).
 

...August 5, 2011 - We're blogging!
The Pennsylvania Collaborative Action Network is now blogging on Blogger! Click here to follow us.

We are activists blogging to raise awareness and advocate for policies and programs that will benefit more than 24,000 people living with MS in Pennsylvania.

Not only will the PA CAN be blogging about important issues, but we are looking for guest bloggers as well. The PA CAN is looking for people with a story to tell about MS issues like health care, disability rights and long-term care services.

Sharing your story can be a great way to raise awareness and advocate for change.

Follow our blog and encourage your friends and family to get active for MS!
 

...June 3, 2011 - Contact your senator today!
On June 6, the Senate will be back in session to begin considering HB 1485, the House Republican budget bill. This bill made deep cuts to home and community based services that allow individuals living with MS and other disabilities to remain in the community.

Call your Senator and say, “Please help restore cuts in the Department of Public Welfare budget to Attendant Care and Services to Persons with Disabilities, so that people living with MS can stay in their homes. Without these programs, individuals will be forced into nursing homes costing the state more money.”

Click here to find your senator's phone number.
 

...May 9, 2011 - DPW Committee considers MS drug classifications
The Department of Public Welfare Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee met on Thursday, May 5 to discuss which medications would receive preferred or non-preferred status under Medicaid. A medication that receives preferred status is paid for by Medicaid and a medication that receives non-preferred status is not covered. There were seven medications being reviewed in the multiple sclerosis class. Those included Avonex, Ampyra, Betaseron, Copaxone, Gilenya, Extavia and Rebif.

Dr. Gary Thomas, a neurologist at the Hershey Medical Center testified on behalf of the National MS Society. Dr. Thomas stated that, “As a practicing neurologist, I know that each patient is unique and many factors impact which medication will be best for her. The decision of which medication is appropriate should be the result of a discussion between the patient and her neurologist. Therefore all FDA approved treatment options to slow the disease progression of MS should be available to Medicaid patients.”

Thanks to testimony of Dr. Gary Thomas and other experts, all seven multiple sclerosis agents received a preferred rating. Multiple sclerosis was the only class to achieve this rating for all drugs.
 

...March 21, 2011 - Pa. sued after it allowed adultBasic health plan to end
Three people who were covered by a state-run health care plan for lower-income adults that stopped being funded two weeks ago began a lawsuit Monday to force Pennsylvania to re-establish the program.

The lawsuit filed in Commonwealth Court alleges that money set aside for the plan, called adultBasic, was unlawfully diverted to other purposes, and is directly responsible for the plan's end on Feb. 28. The suit, filed by Sheryl Sears of McKeesport, Ronald Guiney of Butler and Florence Spanos of Pittsburgh, also seeks a class-action order. More than 41,000 were covered under adultBasic.

It names Gov. Tom Corbett, his budget secretary, the Treasury Department, House Speaker Sam Smith and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.

The plaintiffs' lawyer, Bill Caroselli, told reporters in a conference call that the Legislature and the executive branch had no legal power to end the program.

"It is not discretionary, and the Legislature and executive branch must fund this program," Caroselli said.

Read more.
 

...February 2, 2011 - 2011 federal policy priorities
At the 2011 Public Policy Conference, to be held in March, MS activists will visit their federal lawmakers and urge support on the following three priority issues:

Medicare Neurologist Incentive: The Affordable Care Act provides a 10% bonus to Medicare physicians who specialize in family medicine, internal medicine, geriatric medicine and have allowed charges for evaluation and management services that account for at least 60% of their total allowed charges. Neurologists are among the only group of physicians who are responsible for coordinating overall patient care that are left out of the incentive and at the PPC. MS activists will seek to correct that inequity.

Adult Day Achievement Center Enhancement Act: MS activists will urge support of this legislation that would sustain and grow Adult Day programs by establishing a new grant program within the Administration on Aging that is specifically designed to support Adult Day programs targeting a younger population of people, such as those living with MS and similar diseases.

MS Research in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP): MS activists have successfully advocated for a new federal funding avenue that has yielded approximately $13 million for MS research. At the PPC, MS activists will request robust appropriations for MS research in the CDMRP in Fiscal Year 2012.

In 2011, MS activists and the Public Policy Office will continue advocating for other Society priorities including the Lifespan Respite Care Program, the Part D Off-label Prescription Parity Act, effective implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
 

...December 28, 2010 - Pa. loses single congressional seat after census
Pennsylvania lost a single congressional seat as a result of census figures released last week, the smallest reduction in its delegation in seven decades.

Reapportionment figures cut the number of congressmen from the state from 19 to 18, despite Pennsylvania's total population growing slightly over the past decade, from 12.3 million to 12.7 million. The state's growth rate of 3.4 percent lagged far behind the national rate of 12.7 percent.

The loss of only one seat is the fewest Pennsylvania has shed since 1940, when the number also fell by one, to 33. There were 36 Pennsylvania congressmen in the 1910s and 1920s.