The Upper Midwest Chapter's 2012 priority issues
At the Upper Midwest Chapter, we relentlessly advocate for policies and research essential to people living with MS:
- We prioritize policy issues by listening to clients and volunteers.
- We recruit and support advocates to tell their stories.
- We work with policymakers to secure resources and create
Below are the issues we'll be monitoring during the 2012 legislative session. If you're interested in sharing your story about how any of these issues affect you or your family, please contact Jenna at 612-335-7981 or jenna.washnieski@nmss.org.
Protect programs for people living with MS: As state budgets continue to feel the pressure of a slow economic recovery, we are working to prevent or limit the impact of budget cuts on people living with MS, especially those most vulnerable and in need of health and human services, housing or public transportation options.
Advocate for accessible, affordable and quality health care: We support health care initiatives that expand coverage, increase access to care and provide greater affordability for people living with MS. We monitor and engage in crafting health reform efforts, seek to improve both public and private health care programs, and oppose legislation that negatively impacts access and affordability of care for people living with MS.
Support MS research: We pursue promising and legal scientific and medical research that could lead to a world free of MS. We support efforts to expand such research and oppose efforts that would hinder the ability to free the world from MS.
Reduce the financial burden of MS prescription drugs: People living with MS benefit from FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies; drugs prescribed to reduce future disease activity, which allow continued employment and maintain quality of life. Yet, these therapies are increasingly unaffordable:
- The average cost of health care alone for someone with MS is $39,000 annually.
- Prescription drug costs are often an impediment that keeps people with MS from following the treatment plan directed by their physician.
- Cost-sharing, co-insurance and specialty drug tiering has jeopardized access to these vital treatments.
- At least eight states have laws to contain the cost of these drugs, limit co-insurance pricing or study the implication between cost and lack of access to these treatments.
We advocate for these commitments and champion the rights of people with MS and other disabilities by engaging people in the MS movement and joining forces with legislators, like-minded organizations and coalitions in a relentless pursuit of a world free of MS.