Texas Legislator Recognized for MS Awareness

Texas MS activists presented state Representative Rick Hardcastle with an award this week. It recognizes his significant contribution to raising awareness for MS and finding solutions to issues that impact Texans living with the disease.

View the video here.

According to the KFDX-TV story, Rep. Hardcastle was diagnosed with MS in 2003 and has strongly supported legislation that has helped people living with the disease and their caregivers ... He says he's honored that he's been able to use his public status to raise awareness for MS.

Walk MS Success in the Gateway Area

The Gateway Area Chapter distributed orange buttons at Walk MS this year that said "I Got Active For MS." If someone signed up to be an MS activist and receive action alerts, they got a button. Once a few people were wearing them, people started talking and asking what they were for. That prompted more people to sign up and find out about it. Check out video from the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnVbLehYi1c

Senator Rockefeller Press Release

ROCKEFELLER PROTECTS AMERICANS FROM HIGH OUT-OF-POCKET SPENDING ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Introduces the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009

Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today [Aug 7] introduced the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009, which will protect all Americans from high out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, particularly for those with serious or chronic diseases like cancer or multiple sclerosis. By implementing these new protections, this bill is expected to lower co-payments for up to 10% of Americans with the highest prescription costs.

“With each passing year, Americans are paying more for their health care,” said Senator Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. “Rising out-of-pocket costs are hurting all patients, especially chronically ill and low-income people. Access to affordable prescription drugs to treat chronic diseases is a must if Congress is serious about fixing what is broken in today’s health care system.”

Read more here.

New Affordable Access Legislation Caps Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs

Today national health care reform took a step closer to ensuring access to affordable medicines when Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (WV) introduced the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009. This legislation would cap monthly out-of-pocket costs for medications – including drugs under Medicare Part D as well as those in the private insurance market. Read

The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act would help control this cost-sharing system and create a monthly $200 per medication cap on all out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and a monthly $500 per person cap for those taking more than one medication. Many health care reform proposals seek to cap yearly out-of-pocket drug costs, but this legislation takes it one step further by capping monthly out-of-pocket drugs costs. It will improve access to care and make important medications more affordable to those who need them most.

Find out more about our efforts to limit out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.

Walk MS Success in Colorado

In Colorado, Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. signed legislation at the Walk MS in Denver, which extended the voluntary contribution designation on Colorado Tax Check Off benefiting the Colorado Chapter of the National MS Society. Since the Walk, the Colorado Chapter has met their Tax Check Off donation goal. As a result, they will continue to be part of the part the program for next year. More than 100 new MS activists signed up at the event.