Sixty MS Activists from San Diego to Redding congregated in Sacramento on April 7^th and 8^th for our 19th annual State Action Day.  Approximately 80 meetings were conducted with members of the California State Legislature.  Deputy Legislative Secretary Richard Figueroa spoke elucidating the Governor’s position on bolstering the Affordable Care Act and Teri Boughton, Principal Consultant for Senate Health Committee explained aspects of Senate Health Chair Dr. Richard Pan’s own legislation to financially stabilize the health insurance market.  

2019 State Action Day Outcomes:

• 81 total visits took place to members of the California State Legislature including all of member of Health, Appropriations and Long-Term Care Committee members in both Chambers
•  Several new legislative offices were identified as having a connection to a person living with Multiple Sclerosis.
• An average of 72% legislators indicated they were either supporters or likely to support SB 65 (Making Quality Coverage Affordable)
• All upcoming priority bills with policy committee hearings we’ll conduct in district meetings

On May 2^nd Nevada MS Activist held their 2^nd Annual State Action Day in Carson City.   After an hour of issue preparation with policy experts, twenty-two activists met with 18 key targeted legislators on both the Senate and Assembly Health Committees.  Assembly Health Committee Chair thanked the MS Nevada Activists for their testimony urging passage of Spiegel’s AB 170 which protects persons with disabilities from being discriminated for having a pre-existing condition.  It also provides important consumer protections with respect to continuous and timely coverage.  MS activists were key testifying throughout the legislative process and appeared with the Governor at the Bill signing.   The second bill focused on by MS Activists this session was SB 414 (Hardy-R) which protects patients from common “gag clauses” pharmacy benefit managers put on pharmacists. This practice prevents a patient from receiving a lower cost medication.  We are thrilled that this bill was also signed into law.