Success Stories
Success is when people with MS and those connected to the cause speak out on issues important to them, ask for change, and work with public officials to address them in a positive way.
Thanks to our MS activists, we've helped make the following happen:
- The Georgia Chapter held it’s first ever MS Lobby Day at the State Capitol on March 5, 2009; spreading awareness of the disease as well as the needs of the MS population.
- The National MS Society led more than 100,000 people nationwide to sign the petition to increase federal funding for MS research, and secured a new avenue for MS funding for the first time ever, through the Department of Defense.
- SR 505 – A resolution urging the United States Congress to eliminate the 24 month Medicare wait period for Social Security Disability (SSDI) recipients – passed by the Georgia State Senate nearly unanimously in 2009.
- SB 25 – The voluntary tax-check off legislation that allows tax-payers to donate to the National MS Society – Georgia Chapter’s Financial Assistance Program through their tax returns. This is currently being looked at for the 2010 General Assembly Session.
- In the summer of 2009, we successfully defeated a measure proposed by the Department of Community Health that would have cut Medicaid reimbursement for physicians who administer injectable drugs in-office, which would have severely limited patient access to these therapies.
- We successfully lobbied 5 members of the House of Representatives in the Georgia Delegation of the U.S. Congress to join the Congressional MS Caucus, as well as lobbying Senator Johnny Isakson to join the Senate MS Caucus.
- In the 2009 General Assembly Session, we helped lobby against and defeat a bill that would have made embryonic stem cell research illegal in the state of Georgia; legislation that would have severely impacted MS research in the state.
- In 2009, we successfully worked with the Unlock the Waiting Lists Coalition to lobby for new waiver slots to be introduced in the state-sponsored Independent Care Waiver program.
- In 2009, Georgia Congressmen Nathan Deal helped introduce legislation that would allow the FDA the pathway to approval of safe and effective generic biological medications.
- In 2009, we successfully lobbied Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss to help overturn President Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements Act.
To join us in our lobbying efforts, please contact Kyle Pinion, Public Policy and Programs Manager at (678) 672-1000 or kyle.pinion@nmssga.org