Until a cure is found, the Gateway Area Chapter and MS activists are currently pursuing:
- Health care reform
- Improved community resources
- Disability rights
- Long-term care resources
- Access to quality health care services
- Increased funding for MS research
- Accessible, affordable health insurance
Federal Issues
In Washington, DC, we are working toward positive legislative change. Read about our priority MS issues.
View our our current action items and sign up for action alerts.
Read the National Health Care Reform Principles. These principles help guide our role in the national health care reform debate and determine the Society’s policy priorities.
State and Local Issues
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Locally, volunteers and staff are working on the following initiatives in Missouri:
- Awareness - Increase awareness of MS among members of the General Assembly - their understanding of the disease, their compassion for people with the disease, and their comprehension of the public policy implications of MS.
- Health Care - Advocate for access to quality health care for people with MS, whether they have private insurance, rely on public insurance, or are uninsured. Our specific areas of interest include:
- Ensuring that Missouri's revised Medicaid program takes into account the needs of people with chronic, disabling conditions such as MS
- Access to all of the MS disease-modifying drugs
- Access to physical and occupational therapies
- Access to specialists for people with chronic conditions, such as neurologists for people with MS
- Realistic copayments that are not a barrier to obtaining health care
- Housing- Expand initiatives to assist low to moderate-income people with MS remain in the least restrictive environment. Various mechanisms to do this may include, but is not limited to, expanding availability of targeted tax credits, home care initiatives, and caregiver support programs.
- Long-Term Care - Advocate for long-term care planning options relevant for people with MS. This includes exploring possible public-private partnerships or Medicaid buy-in opportunities.
- Transportation - Identify ways to improve accessible transportation.
- Privacy - Preserve the privacy of people with MS, by reviewing proposed changes in format and availability of medical records to make sure they are consistent with HIPPA and allow the patient to remain in control of who may access his/her private health information.
In Illinois, volunteers and staff are working on the following initiatives:
- House bill 244. Thanks to MS activists’ advocating, House bill 244 was signed into law on August 7. This bill mandates insurance coverage for preventative physical therapy for Illinois state and municipal employees living with MS. This is an amendment to the original preventative physical therapy bill which was signed into law in 2006 but excluded state and municipal employees.
- Illinois lotto. In 2008, the $2 Illinois scratch-off lotto ticket “It’s Double Time!” raised $1,000,000 for MS research in the state of Illinois. Illinois is the first state to offer an MS lottery ticket. We are hopeful that the current “Dash! For Cash” MS lotto ticket with also be successful.
- In-district visits. In August while Congress was in recess, MS activists from the Gateway Area and Greater Illinois chapters made visits with 7 representatives to discuss the National MS Society’s federal issues and ask for their support. Visits were made to Representatives Manzullo, Johnson, Shimkus, Lipinksi, Foster, Biggert, and Roskam.
- Advocacy and Government Relations Committee. The Gateway Area Chapter is recruiting members for the Illinois Advocacy and Government Relations Committee. This committee is open to those who live in Illinois and are interested in advocating for people living with MS in Illinois. The committee meets quarterly via teleconference and offers multiple ways to volunteer. Please contact the Chapter if you are interested in participating.
Expansion of the Home Services Program
- Supporting efforts to expand access to home services available to people living with MS through the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DoRS).
- Exempting assets from retirement accounts and life insurance policies when determining eligibility, and reconsidering the age limit of 60 will mean that more individuals with MS will qualify for the program and can receive essential home services. These services give individuals with MS the option of staying in their homes with their families.
- MS is a very expensive disease (approximately $69,000 per year) - one that strains a family's income. By expanding access to the Home Services Program, you can help keeps families from financial crisis.
- Expanding the Home Care Services program would be a cost savings to the government, as home care services cost less than nursing home care.
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