Need Help Paying for MS Drugs?
Managing the costs of MS meds is a huge challenge, especially for people with no insurance or who are underinsured. But some help is available. Each disease-modifying drug manufacturer and many makers of medications that treat MS symptoms have Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), which offer free or low-cost medications to those who qualify. Prescription drug discount programs can help as well. Ask your doctor if there is a generic version available for any prescription.
Patience may be needed to get benefits, however. You can get support and information from the Society, too.
Visit nationalMSsociety.org/underinsured or call us at 1-800-344-4867.
Call an MS Navigator™ at 1-800-344-4867 about other drugs or state-supported patient assistance programs. The information here is not guaranteed to be up to date as programs may change, but we hope this helps you get started.
New! Greater New England Chat Room
We are excited to offer a new opportunity to “chat” with others who are living with MS. The Greater New England Chat Room will meet every Sunday night from 7 to 9 p.m. To access: log onto www.MSWorld.org and sign up for a username. Once registered, click on the Chat Room link and then enter the Greater New England Chat Room.
Program Highlights
Kids Get MS Too Fenway Park Experience - July 31
Kids and teens with MS and their families created wonderful memories at the Kids Get MS Too Fenway Park Experience! Over 20 families from New England, New York and New Jersey had a great time as they socialized, shared experiences and made new friends within Fenway Park. The guests were treated to lunch, a visit from Wally the Green Monster, Red Sox batting practice and a Fenway Park Tour (photos).
Officially announced to the Fenway crowd as “Pediatric MS Day at Fenway Park” during the traditional pre-game activities and announcements, this event was a great opportunity to increase awareness about Pediatric MS, the Society and the Chapter. During these announcements, several representatives from the Chapter and the Kids Get MS too program waved to the sell out crowd from the field. The day continued with the successful walk-off win by our hometown boys against the Detroit Tigers. This amazing experience was made possible by the generosity of our donors and individual gifts from the Van Houten Family, iCapital, LLC and the Partners Pediatric MS Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.
From left:
Sarah MacIsaac, Program Manager;
Linda Guiod, Executive VP for Chapter Programs & Services;
Dr. David Rintell, Family Counselor at Partners Pediatric MS Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children;
Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, Director and Neurologist at Partners Pediatric MS Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children;
Paul Van Houten, Chapter Board Member & his son, Jack;
Two teens with MS, Matt & Victoria;
and Wally the Green Monster.
2010 Let’s Talk About...
MP3 & CD recordings now available!
During the winter, the Chapter offered the 2010 Let’s Talk About… teleconference series. Always a favorite, this annual teleconference series provides chapter members with a convenient way to learn more about various MS related topics from home. MP3 recordings of this year’s calls are now available for online listening at www.MSnewengland.org and CD recordings can be accessed through the Chapter’s Dora Lipcon Lending Library. Check them out and learn more about each topic:
Motivating to Move- MS and Exercise
Recorded January 27, 2010; 90 minutes
Research has shown that exercise is beneficial for people with MS. Still, adopting an active lifestyle and adhering to exercise is a challenge. Discover useful strategies to help you get started or to stay with it more regularly. Also, learn ways to add exercise into your daily life through energy conservation and balance.
Speaker: Dr. Kasser is an Associate Professor within the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont where her professional efforts are aimed at the inclusion of all individuals into physical activity. With over 20 years of MS related experience, Dr. Kasser has presented on both national and international levels in the area of inclusion and has been successful at developing many campus-based and community based exercise programs for adults with disabilities.
Private Matters- Bowel, Bladder and Sexual Dysfunction
Recorded February 10, 2010; 90 minutes
Bowel and bladder dysfunction occur in almost 80 percent of people living with MS. In addition, a recent study reported that as many as 91 percent of men and 72 percent of women with MS may be affected by sexual problems. These issues can cause a great deal of discomfort and humiliation, and can even aggravate other MS symptoms. Learn about current treatments and ways to manage bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction as they relate to MS.
Speaker: Christine St. Laurent, MS, RN, MSCN from the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, MA. Christine brings years of experience working with MS patients and of addressing some of the most sensitive and important issues.
MS: What We Know About the Hormone Connection
Recorded March 24, 2010; 90 minutes
Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl is a Professor of Neurology at the University of California-Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research and Treatment Program. She is a widely recognized expert in the study of the immunology of MS. Her work has lead to the two novel treatment trials in MS patients. Dr. Voskuhl discovered that the female sex hormone, estriol, could suppress MS-like symptoms in a mouse model of the disease. She will share her insight into this field of study and present on its most recent developments.