AAN Practice Guidelines

Clinical Tool for Injection Anxiety

Many people with MS are unable to self-inject their disease-modifying medications due to anxiety.

A 6-session program called "Self-Injection Anxiety Training," developed by David C. Mohr, PhD, and Darcy Cox, Psy.D. at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Behavioral Medicine Research Center (BMRC), has been shown to be effective in helping people overcome their fears and learn to self-inject.

The SIAC Patient Workbook and Counselor Manual can be downloaded as can information about the program's development and validation. The workbook and manual can also be requested from the PRC at healthprof_info@nmss.org.

• Manual for Counselors (.pdf)

• Patient Workbook (.pdf)

• SIAC background, validation, and references (.pdf)

Health Insurance Appeal Letters: A Toolkit for Clinicians

The National MS Society developed this guide as a resource for clinicians and administrative staff in clinical practice settings. The purpose of this guide is to aid in the dialogue between MS clinicians and health plans when disputes over coverage arise. Information for your patients about their appeal rights, responsibilities and procedures is available in the Insurance and Money Matters section of this Web site.

Template health insurance appeal letters are developed by Society staff after reports of coverage denials or limitations are received directly from people with MS or healthcare professionals.  Society staff work in collaboration with our medical advisors to determine which treatments need to be addressed with a template letter, and all template letters are reviewed and approved by these same medical advisors.  As new therapies or evidence emerge, letters may be developed and disseminated between publication of revised editions of the ‘Health Insurance Appeal  Letters:  A Toolkit for Clinicians’ (see "Additional Appeal Letters & Abstracts' below).

Includes:

• Overview of the appeals process
• Template appeal letters on CD
• Citations and abstracts, plus National MS Society consensus documents, to support clinical recommendations
• Guide to additional resources and publications 

Additonal Appeal Letters & Abstracts:

• Ampyra Appeal Letter & Abstracts (.pdf)
• Gilenya Appeal Letter & Abstract (.pdf)
• Lyrica Appeal Letter & Abstract (.pdf)
• Tecfidera Appeal Letter & Abstracts (.pdf)

"McDonald Criteria" for the Diagnosis of MS

The 2010 Revisions to the "McDonald Criteria" for the Diagnosis of MS were published in the February 2011 issue of Annals of Neurology as a free access paper. We will be making available updated pocket cards summarizing the revised diagnostic criteria as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, download a TipSheet here:

• TipSheet: 2010 Revisions to the McDonald Criteria for the Diagnosis of MS (.pdf) 

SSDI Guidebook for Clinicians

A guidebook to facilitate discussion between healthcare professionals and their patients about the Social Security disability benefit application process and streamline efforts to document eligibility.

• SSDI Guidebook for Professionals (.pdf)

Worksheets and Sample Letters

• Disability Evaluation Checklist (.pdf)
• SSA Criteria for Evaluating MS Impairments (.pdf)
• Sample Physician-to-SSA Letter (.pdf)
• Sample Psychologist-to-SSA Letter (.pdf)
• SSDI Guidebook for People Living with MS (.pdf)

Worksheets and Sample Letters

• Applicant Medical History (.pdf)
• How MS Impacts Your Functioning and Ability to Work (.pdf)
• Physician Medical Information Worksheet (.pdf)
• Applicant Work History  (.pdf)
• SSA MS Listing and Criteria Reference Sheet (.pdf)

A guidebook to assist healthcare professionals who are supporting their MS patients through the process of filing claims for private long-term disability benefits.

• Private Disability Claims Guide for Clinicians

CCSVI

Read the Latest Information

Cognitive Dysfunction in MS

Differential Diagnosis of MS

An international task force convened by the National MS Society’s International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials published a landmark paper to guide neurologists through the complex process of distinguishing multiple sclerosis from other disorders.

• David Miller, MD, FRCP (University College London), Chris Polman, MD, PhD (Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam) and colleagues present these guidelines in Multiple Sclerosis 2008 Nov;14[9]:1157-74, inviting feedback and research to validate them. Because of its potential impact, the National MS Society provided funds to make this paper available to all at no charge.
• Read more about these guidelines.