This year’s Annual Meeting of Members will include educational workshops, a research update and a product EXPO at each of our four locations. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to visit the EXPO to learn about health, recreation, and independence products and services, and to network with others living with MS. This FREE program includes lunch. Limit 2 adult guests per registrant.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011
Location – choose the site you wish to attend:
Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center, Marlborough MA
Stanley F. Waterman Research Update- Opening Doors in the MS Research Pipeline: 20 years of Progress in MS Diagnosis and Treatment presented by Mayo Clinic Neurologist and Researcher Dr. Brian Weinshenker Winner of the 2011 John Dystel Prize for MS Research
Clarion, Portland ME
Stanley F. Waterman Research Update- How are Cognition and Fatigue Affected by MS presented by John DeLuca, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dept of Neurosciences Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School
Church Landing, Meredith NH
Stanley F. Waterman Research Update- Coming Soon - a New Treatment Option for Secondary Progressive MS presented by Carolina Ionete, MD, Ph.D, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Neurologist & Researcher
Hilton Burlington Hotel, Burlington VT
Stanley F. Waterman Research Update- Hope Through MS Research: Recent Advances and Emerging Therapies presented by Angela Applebee, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Director of the MS Center of Northern New England, Burlington, VT
Registration deadline: October 22, 2011
Agenda:
8:30 am Continental Breakfast & Registration
9:00 am Welcome & EXPO
9:30 am Workshops
12:00 noon Lunch
12:30 pm Annual Meeting
1:30 pm Stanley F. Waterman Research Presentation
Learn something new about current MS research directions, MS treatments, symptom management, resources, services & products available to you. Feel more confident in managing MS & its effects on your life. Learn something new about the National MS Society & the Greater New England Chapter and join the movement!
To register: Follow the links for the location you want to attend
Call 1-800-344-4867.
If you are not able to attend and wish to assign your proxy vote, please use this link:
Eligibility: Person with MS and adult guests.
This program not suitable for children. This program is handicapped-accessible.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Federal Focus - September 2011
Tell Your Members about Priorities for People with MS, as the Supercommittee Moves Forward
Congress has just returned to Washington, D.C. from a month-long district and state work period. Before the House and Senate adjourned for this August recess, they enacted the Budget Control Act that put in place a bipartisan Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that is tasked with developing recommendations for a deficit reduction package. Members have been appointed to this "Supercommittee" and a detailed timeline is included in the law, with certain deadlines that the Supercommittee must meet. The Supercommittee's first meeting happened this week and it will continue to meet over the next several weeks. By November 23, the Supercommittee must put forth its recommendations and vote on them. If a majority of the Supercommittee votes in favor of the recommendations, it then submits its proposed legislation to Congress for an ‘up or down’ vote--which must happen by December 23.
The Society has been and will continue to monitor any proposed changes to programs and services for people living with MS. As the Committee forms its recommendations, all options for reducing spending are technically on the table. As a result, the Supercommittee and then Congress could pass changes to programs like Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid that directly or indirectly impact access to services. Another possible scenario is if the Supercommittee does not pass its recommendations, automatic across-the-board cuts would go into effect beginning in January 2013. If automatic cuts are triggered, Congress did enact a safeguard for Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare beneficiaries whereby these benefits would not be cut. Another potential scenario is if the Supercommittee approves cuts totaling less than $1.2 trillion over ten years, automatic cuts would still be triggered to make up the difference.
As the Supercommittee continues its meetings and makes these important decisions, click here to remind your members of Congress about the importance of protecting federal programs and services for people living with MS. Members of Congress have opportunities to weigh in with the Supercommittee so be sure to email your members today!
Federal Appropriations Update
Each year, the Society advocates for robust appropriations for research institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for MS research funding streams like the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), the Lifespan Respite Care Program, and federal programs and agencies like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and the Food and Drug Administration. Several months ago, the Society submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees about the importance of this research and these programs for people living with MS.
Some appropriations bills have passed the House, but others have not moved significantly in either chamber. The House of Representatives has passed a Department of Defense appropriations bill that includes $3.8 million for MS research in the CDMRP and a Senate bill is expected to be marked up this month. The House Subcommittee with jurisdiction over many health-related programs was scheduled to mark up its appropriations bill today, but the markup was postponed.
The end of the fiscal year is only a few weeks away although much work remains to complete the annual federal appropriations process. While there has not been explicit direction, there is speculation that Congress could end up wrapping several different appropriations bills into what is known as an "omnibus." Stay tuned for opportunities to weigh in with your members of Congress, to ensure that MS-related appropriations receive the funding they deserve!
Congress has just returned to Washington, D.C. from a month-long district and state work period. Before the House and Senate adjourned for this August recess, they enacted the Budget Control Act that put in place a bipartisan Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that is tasked with developing recommendations for a deficit reduction package. Members have been appointed to this "Supercommittee" and a detailed timeline is included in the law, with certain deadlines that the Supercommittee must meet. The Supercommittee's first meeting happened this week and it will continue to meet over the next several weeks. By November 23, the Supercommittee must put forth its recommendations and vote on them. If a majority of the Supercommittee votes in favor of the recommendations, it then submits its proposed legislation to Congress for an ‘up or down’ vote--which must happen by December 23.
The Society has been and will continue to monitor any proposed changes to programs and services for people living with MS. As the Committee forms its recommendations, all options for reducing spending are technically on the table. As a result, the Supercommittee and then Congress could pass changes to programs like Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid that directly or indirectly impact access to services. Another possible scenario is if the Supercommittee does not pass its recommendations, automatic across-the-board cuts would go into effect beginning in January 2013. If automatic cuts are triggered, Congress did enact a safeguard for Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare beneficiaries whereby these benefits would not be cut. Another potential scenario is if the Supercommittee approves cuts totaling less than $1.2 trillion over ten years, automatic cuts would still be triggered to make up the difference.
As the Supercommittee continues its meetings and makes these important decisions, click here to remind your members of Congress about the importance of protecting federal programs and services for people living with MS. Members of Congress have opportunities to weigh in with the Supercommittee so be sure to email your members today!
Federal Appropriations Update
Each year, the Society advocates for robust appropriations for research institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for MS research funding streams like the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), the Lifespan Respite Care Program, and federal programs and agencies like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and the Food and Drug Administration. Several months ago, the Society submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees about the importance of this research and these programs for people living with MS.
Some appropriations bills have passed the House, but others have not moved significantly in either chamber. The House of Representatives has passed a Department of Defense appropriations bill that includes $3.8 million for MS research in the CDMRP and a Senate bill is expected to be marked up this month. The House Subcommittee with jurisdiction over many health-related programs was scheduled to mark up its appropriations bill today, but the markup was postponed.
The end of the fiscal year is only a few weeks away although much work remains to complete the annual federal appropriations process. While there has not been explicit direction, there is speculation that Congress could end up wrapping several different appropriations bills into what is known as an "omnibus." Stay tuned for opportunities to weigh in with your members of Congress, to ensure that MS-related appropriations receive the funding they deserve!
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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.