MS Gala 2010, Phyl and Bernie Rubin
MileStones Gala 2010
Features
* Into the Wild
* MS Harborfest
News
* From the President
* MileStones Gala 2010, Honoring Phyl Rubin with the MS Hope Award
* “We Keep Moving” Hits the Road
* World-Wide Survey on Jobs and MS
* Tune In to “MS from A to Z” Online
Newly Diagnosed
* In MS, Relationship Matters
* When the Diagnosis Is Primary Progressive
Programs
* Considering Life Insurance? A Broker Can Help
* The Boston Home B.Fit!
* Program Highlights
o Maine
o Massachusetts
o New Hampshire
o Vermont
* Annual Meeting of Members and Research Update
Living with MS
* 2010 Scholarship Award Recipients
* Physical Wellness
* Relationship Matters
* Everyone Can Join Walk MS and Bike MS
Research
* Research Advocate
* Oral Drugs Make Progress
* Resources to Find Clinical Trials
* Research Updates
Advocacy
* Federal Updates
* State Updates
o Maine
o Massachusetts
o New Hampshire
o Vermont
* MS Activists Make MS a Priority on Capitol Hill in March
Volunteers
* Babson College Students Take on Multiple Sclerosis
Fundraising
* Marathon Strides Against MS
* Ways to Give: Let Us Count the Ways
* Bike MS: Notes
Calendar of Events - see current calendar
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Celebrate the 20th year of the Americans with Disabilities Act !!
ADA Signing
Join the National MS Society’s, Greater New England chapter in partnership with disability activists and policy makers as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Great progress has been made in ensuring equal public access since the ADA passed but continued activism is needed to address remaining barriers.
These exciting free events are scheduled from July 22nd thru 26th, 2010 and all are welcome to attend
Details about each state’s events, along with copies of each official event flyer, can be accessed using the calendar links on our chapter's website.
Please stop by the chapter’s exhibit table at each event. Hope to see you there - invite a friend or two!
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater New England Chapter
101A First Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451-1115
tel: 1 800-344-4867
fax: 1 781-890-2089
MSnewengland.org
Join the National MS Society’s, Greater New England chapter in partnership with disability activists and policy makers as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Great progress has been made in ensuring equal public access since the ADA passed but continued activism is needed to address remaining barriers.
These exciting free events are scheduled from July 22nd thru 26th, 2010 and all are welcome to attend
Details about each state’s events, along with copies of each official event flyer, can be accessed using the calendar links on our chapter's website.
Please stop by the chapter’s exhibit table at each event. Hope to see you there - invite a friend or two!
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater New England Chapter
101A First Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451-1115
tel: 1 800-344-4867
fax: 1 781-890-2089
MSnewengland.org
Friday, July 2, 2010
Federal Focus - July 2010
Take Action!
Support NIH Research and Progress
As the federal budget and appropriations process continues, it is vital for MS activists to advocate for robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As the country's premier institution for medical research and the single largest source of biomedical research funding in the world, the NIH's work is tremendously important to people living with MS.
Click here to take action today and urge your U.S. Senators and Representative to support $35 billion for the NIH in Fiscal Year 2011.
Over the past decade, NIH's research has contributed to enhanced knowledge about the mechanics of the immune system, which in turn has led to a better understanding of MS lesions. These NIH discoveries are being used to gain more information about the potential causes of MS and different methods to alter the immune system response to treat MS. Dedicating $35 billion for the NIH in Fiscal Year 2011 would build upon this progress by permitting the NIH to pursue promising scientific and health advances for diseases and chronic conditions including MS. Click here to email your Senators and Representative today.
Temporaray Relief for Medicare Reimbursement Rates
On June 25, President Obama signed into law legislation that delays a 21.3% cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians and instead provides a 2.2% rate increase for six months, retroactive to June 1. Congress recently considered a longer term solution and also attempted to move this provision as part of a larger package including continued Medicaid assistance to states and extension of COBRA assistance. After repeated attempts at passage, the House and Senate ultimately passed a stand-alone bill that avoids the Medicare reimbursement cut through November 30, 2010.
Many people in the United States depend on Medicare for their health coverage. Currently, the Medicare program covers an estimated 47 million people, including 8 million people with disabilities who are under age 65. Nearly one-quarter of those living with MS rely on Medicare as their primary type of insurance and this temporary fix will help protect access to needed care.
The annual payment cuts are required under a decade-old formula called the sustainable growth rate (SGR). Reimbursement rates for Medicare would have been cut on a yearly basis, but Congress has deferred the cuts nine times since 2003, almost always just days before they would take effect. The National MS Society will continue to monitor and advocate for appropriate Medicare reimbursement as this issue continues.
Health Care Reform Implementation: High Risk Pools and Web Portal Launched
July marks significant milestones in implementation of the new health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. July 1 was the official launch of a nation-wide health insurance program for the uninsured. Through temporary high-risk pools, U.S. citizens with a pre-existing health condition who have been living without any health coverage for six months or more will be able to purchase their own health insurance. This coverage will remain in place until broader coverage reforms take effect in 2014. At that point, enrollees in the temporary pools will be transitioned to another plan of their choice.
Thirty states elected to run their own high risk pools, and all aim to begin providing benefits before the fall. The federal government will administer the remaining twenty states' programs, and began accepting applications on July 1st. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will maintain oversight over the plans, including determining the minimum benefits that must be included. Although premiums will vary from state to state and according to the applicant's age, plans must cover at least 65% of health care costs.
Information about the temporary high risk pools, other coverage options and additional provisions of the health reform law are now available online. To access this new website designed to promote 'one stop' shopping for consumers, click here. The new web portal is a project of HHS to help individuals and small businesses research and navigate the purchase of affordable health insurance. The web portal will be continuously updated and is scheduled to include detailed information about the pricing of various health plans in October.
To keep future MS activism messages out of your junk folder, add the following address to your contacts or safe sender list: MSActionNetwork@nmss.org
Support NIH Research and Progress
As the federal budget and appropriations process continues, it is vital for MS activists to advocate for robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As the country's premier institution for medical research and the single largest source of biomedical research funding in the world, the NIH's work is tremendously important to people living with MS.
Click here to take action today and urge your U.S. Senators and Representative to support $35 billion for the NIH in Fiscal Year 2011.
Over the past decade, NIH's research has contributed to enhanced knowledge about the mechanics of the immune system, which in turn has led to a better understanding of MS lesions. These NIH discoveries are being used to gain more information about the potential causes of MS and different methods to alter the immune system response to treat MS. Dedicating $35 billion for the NIH in Fiscal Year 2011 would build upon this progress by permitting the NIH to pursue promising scientific and health advances for diseases and chronic conditions including MS. Click here to email your Senators and Representative today.
Temporaray Relief for Medicare Reimbursement Rates
On June 25, President Obama signed into law legislation that delays a 21.3% cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians and instead provides a 2.2% rate increase for six months, retroactive to June 1. Congress recently considered a longer term solution and also attempted to move this provision as part of a larger package including continued Medicaid assistance to states and extension of COBRA assistance. After repeated attempts at passage, the House and Senate ultimately passed a stand-alone bill that avoids the Medicare reimbursement cut through November 30, 2010.
Many people in the United States depend on Medicare for their health coverage. Currently, the Medicare program covers an estimated 47 million people, including 8 million people with disabilities who are under age 65. Nearly one-quarter of those living with MS rely on Medicare as their primary type of insurance and this temporary fix will help protect access to needed care.
The annual payment cuts are required under a decade-old formula called the sustainable growth rate (SGR). Reimbursement rates for Medicare would have been cut on a yearly basis, but Congress has deferred the cuts nine times since 2003, almost always just days before they would take effect. The National MS Society will continue to monitor and advocate for appropriate Medicare reimbursement as this issue continues.
Health Care Reform Implementation: High Risk Pools and Web Portal Launched
July marks significant milestones in implementation of the new health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. July 1 was the official launch of a nation-wide health insurance program for the uninsured. Through temporary high-risk pools, U.S. citizens with a pre-existing health condition who have been living without any health coverage for six months or more will be able to purchase their own health insurance. This coverage will remain in place until broader coverage reforms take effect in 2014. At that point, enrollees in the temporary pools will be transitioned to another plan of their choice.
Thirty states elected to run their own high risk pools, and all aim to begin providing benefits before the fall. The federal government will administer the remaining twenty states' programs, and began accepting applications on July 1st. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will maintain oversight over the plans, including determining the minimum benefits that must be included. Although premiums will vary from state to state and according to the applicant's age, plans must cover at least 65% of health care costs.
Information about the temporary high risk pools, other coverage options and additional provisions of the health reform law are now available online. To access this new website designed to promote 'one stop' shopping for consumers, click here. The new web portal is a project of HHS to help individuals and small businesses research and navigate the purchase of affordable health insurance. The web portal will be continuously updated and is scheduled to include detailed information about the pricing of various health plans in October.
To keep future MS activism messages out of your junk folder, add the following address to your contacts or safe sender list: MSActionNetwork@nmss.org
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About Me
- Steve
- North Grafton, Massachusetts, United States
- Well-educated, disabled at this point with Multiple Sclerosis. I am very glad that I was able to do the things that I have been able to do over the years. had to change the picture, this one's more realistic.