Sep 02, 2009
Federal Health Care Reform
Our nation is in the midst of considering significant reform to our health care system. There are many polarizing dynamics around this debate, but we, as an organization, must focus on those that are core to our mission — people living with MS. The reality is that health care is inadequate for many families living with MS. We must ensure comprehensive reform occurs that effectively addressees the complex needs of this challenging disease — from covering high cost treatments to access to high quality long-term care. The National MS Society supports a balanced, bipartisan and comprehensive approach to legislation around health care reform that ensures that the needs of people living with MS are addressed.
A broad-based group of volunteers, including many living with MS, developed the Society’s National Health Care Reform Principles. These bold and broad based principles are a blueprint for the Society’s advocacy efforts on health care reform helping to ensure that any legislation moving forward meets the needs of people with MS.
As an organization, we are pleased that many of the Society’s National Health Care Reform Principles are integral components of the currently proposed health care reform legislation, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (HR 3200). There are other components of the bill about which we do not have a position.
The Society will continue to advocate that this legislation, as well as future legislation is consistent with our Health Care Reform Principles.