NOW is the Time to Move the Mission Forward Dear Friends, Thousands of people in Wisconsin showed their support for the MS Movement in one way or another this year. By donating money or time, individuals of all ages and backgrounds made a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease. You’ll find the photos and stories of some of those individuals featured inside this issue of MS Connection along with a special year-end gift to you – a calendar for the New Year reflective of the people in the MS community and the incredible qualities they bring to the Movement. Use it not only to keep track of your own schedules and special dates, but also to keep tabs on ways to connect with the Movement at events, fundraisers and programs throughout 2013. We continue to make strides in the Society’s No Opportunity Wasted initiative and its commitment to raise $250 million to fuel more research. Truly NOW is the time that you can have a significant impact on the future of this disease. A year-end gift to the Chapter will keep that momentum building until we STOP disease progression, RESTORE what has been lost and END MS forever. With your help, we’ll get there. Best wishes to you and yours for the New Year,
Colleen G. Kalt President & CEO
Victory in Medicare Settlement Means More Services for Individuals with MS In October, a settlement to end Medicare’s “Improvement Standard” was reached in a nationwide lawsuit in which the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was a plaintiff.
nursing facilities, home health and outpatient physical or occupational therapy to Medicare beneficiaries living with MS or other diseases if they did not show improvement.
The standard denied coverage for services such as skilled
The agreement to end the standard will vastly benefit
people with MS and their families, helping place essential services back in their reach. For more information and to follow the settlement’s progress, visit www.MSActivist.org, or sign up for MS eNEWS at www. nationalMSsociety.org/signup. MS Connection | 3