The nation has never been closer to achieving significant health care reform. Both chambers of Congress have passed their health care reform bills and now are reconciling differences between the two bills. Upon passage of the reconciled bill, the health care reform bill will then go to the President for his signature.
This is significant news, as health care is inadequate for many families living with MS. 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. We must ensure comprehensive reform occurs that effectively addresses the complex needs of this challenging disease — from covering high cost of treatments to access to high quality long-term care. We have studied the political landscape and current proposed legislation. We recognize the polarizing dynamics around this debate and support continued evaluation and discussion that will lead to a successful resolution to comprehensively reform health care.
A broad-based group of volunteers, including many living with MS, developed the National MS Society’s 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. These principles include:
- Providing accessible and affordable health coverage for all Americans
- Eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions
- Limiting out-of-pocket costs including deductible, co-pays, and co-insurance
- Eliminating arbitrary annual and lifetime coverage caps
- Eliminating the Medicare 24-month disability waiting period
- Improving the Medicare program through eliminating the Part D doughnut hole and giving more generous low income subsidies
- Providing access to quality long-term supports and services, especially in-home and community care
- Eliminating disparities in care
- Protecting patient choice and health care provider relationships
- Establishing standards for accessible medical equipment to help minimize barriers for access to care
- Improving the coordination of care and eliminating redundant medical forms and tests with electronic medical records and health IT.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society urges you to support legislation that will address the health care needs of all people affected by MS. We are pleased that many of the National MS Society’s Health Care Reform Principles are integral components of the health care reform legislation passed through both chambers of Congress. There are components of the legislation about which we do not have a position. The Society will continue to advocate for health care reform that is consistent with our Health Care Reform Principles because:
- Nearly 50 million people living in America do not have any health insurance and many millions more do not have adequate coverage leaving their health and financial security highly vulnerable. People with chronic illnesses like MS are especially likely to be underinsured
- A chronic disease such as MS means extra reliance on health care services in order to maintain health or cope with the effects of a deteriorating condition. Challenges in access and affordability are significant barriers for people living with MS
- People with disabilities experience disparities in care that must be eliminated.
- Improvements in continuity of care is essential to providing quality health care for people living with complex conditions such as MS
- A recent survey showed that over 20% of people living with MS could not fill their prescriptions, skipped medication doses or split dosage without their doctor’s consent because they did not have adequate coverage or access. Other studies demonstrate that many people with MS are unable to access essential care and services.
Ways you can take action now:
- Please call 800-828-0498 to be connected to your Senator or Representative and tell them that you want health care reform to continue to move forward because it will be an essential step to meeting the health care needs of many people living with MS. Many people living with MS need more choice, expanded coverage and access to care, limited out of pocket costs, and improved quality of health care.
- Be an MS Activist: Sign up to receive news and updates on health policies, help find solutions to MS issues, and take action on legislation that matters.
- Visit www.healthreform.gov to provide your stories to convey your challenges with health care or how you are making a difference in the push for health care reform.
Health Care Reform Resources & Up-to-Date Information
National MS Society’s Health Care Reform Principles
National MS Society's Health Care Reform Policy Position Paper
Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals - The Kaiser Family Foundation provides a side-by-side comparison tool on its health reform gateway page to include detailed summaries of the comprehensive health care reform legislation.
Sorting out Myth from Fact: Health Care Reform
U.S. Health & Human Services Health Care Reform webpage
American Medical Association: The Organization's Vision for Health System Reform
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