24 ADVOCACY
LOCAL UPDATES Health Insurance Exchanges Set to Open October 1
Health Insurance Exchanges open October 1 across the country. With a single application process, the system is designed to help individuals find appropriate, affordable health care coverage. The new consumer website, where you can find the most up to date information, is www.healthcare.gov. You will also be able to find information about your state’s Marketplace and who to call to enroll. If you have any questions, please call our Information and Resource Center at 1-800-FIGHT-MS and select Option 1.
DELAWARE SENATE BILL 35 PASSED The Delaware Chapter has been hard at work supporting Senator Margaret Rose-Henry on Senate Bill 35, related to specialty tier prescription coverage. The bill was introduced on April 16, 2013; the Chapter’s Government Relations Committee worked hard to have a voice at the Senate hearing. The Chapter contacted many individuals - members, their
MS connection: SUMMER 2013
friends, family and other State committees and councils – and asked them to contact legislators and ask for their support. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate and went to the House where it was assigned to the Health and Human Development Committee. It was passed unanimously on June 12th and sent to the House for a full vote. The House unanimously passed the bill on June 26th. Governor Jack Markell will sign the bill into law in the next few weeks! We are very pleased with the outcome and thank all of our members, friends, family and colleagues for their diligence, support and energy!
Calling all advocates! The Delaware Chapter’s Government Relations Committee is looking to grow their membership and is particularly interested in recruiting members from Kent and Sussex Counties. If you are interested in becoming a member of this group and want to make a difference in the development and course of legislation at all levels, please contact Debra Veenema, Director of Programs and Services at debra.veenema@nmss.org or by phone at 302-655-5610 or 1-800 FIGHT MS.
nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-FIGHT-MS
NEW JERSEY NJ MS Task Force Continues its Work The NJ MS Task Force is working hard to develop its recommendations for the Governor and NJ legislature. In addition to suggesting potential legislation that could positively impact the lives of people impacted by MS, the Task Force is also exploring many regulatory and policy opportunities. You can find more information about the work of the Task Force at www.nj.gov/health/ fhs/mstaskforce/index.shtml
Support NJ Caregivers The Caregiver’s Assistance Act is in the NJ Assembly and Senate. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt, the legislation would offer a modest gross income tax credit for qualifying caregivers. While the legislation is currently written to offer the tax credit to caregivers providing care to a senior family member, we are supporting this legislation the hope that conversations can continue to expand these tax credits to those providing care to non-seniors. In testimony before the Assembly’s Women and Children Committee, Karen Mariner offered the support of the National MS Society, and requested that the legislature extend these tax credits to the thousands of caregivers providing care to those under the age of 65. Call your Assemblyperson or Senator and urge
25 them to support the Caregiver’s Assistance Act. For more information, please contact Karen Mariner at Karen.Mariner@nmss.org.
PENNSYLVANIA New MS Caucus Forming in PA State Capital How many times have you thought that more people need to learn about what it is like to live with multiple sclerosis, or care for someone with MS? Have you wished that legislators had an understanding about the challenges of living with MS? We are thrilled to announce that we are doing something about this in our PA state capital. A new MS Caucus is being formed in the General Assembly. The Caucus will be chaired by Representative Marguerite Quinn. The Caucus has numerous goals including:
• Educating legislators and their staff about Multiple Sclerosis, its symptoms and treatments, and the latest in MS research • Providing legislators and staffers information about resources that exist to better serve their constituents impacted by MS • Discuss the challenges faced by people dealing with MS in PA and identifying bi-partisan solutions We need you to contact your State Representative and urge them to join the caucus. A sample letter already written for you to send is available through MSactivePA.org. You can send the letter as is, or you can personalize the letter to share your own MS story.