| 2007 Legislative Issue Priorities |
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The Greater Illinois Chapter joins
chapters across the United
States to fight for Federal Issues
that impact individuals living with MS.
Here are the top priorities in 2007:
Medicare Wheelchair Coverage
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
is lobbying Congress to lift current
Medicare "in the home" restrictions that,
to date, have meant that beneficiaries
can only access mobility devices for use
in the home. By lifting the restriction,
more beneficiaries will be eligible to
receive wheelchairs or scooters that will
help them get around their homes and
outside in their communities.
The MS population provides a clear
example of the problem with Medicare's
"in the home" coverage limitation:
People with MS face a chronic disabling
condition that is variable and unpredictable.
They can have significant functional
loss and complex, clinical issues
that require specialized medical care.
For people with MS who need mobility
equipment outside their homes-due to
nervous system damage or other
adverse effects of the disease - the
current policy poses a major access
barrier.
Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Available for Federally
Funded Research
As expected, the new stem cell
research bill was one of the first things
considered by the 110th Congress. On
January 11, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research
Enhancement Act, by an impressive
vote of 253-174. The Senate is expected
to address the legislation in
February. If passed, President Bush has
again vowed to veto the legislation.
To find new ways to prevent, slow the
progression, or repair the devastating
effects of multiple sclerosis, the National
MS Society supports the conduct of scientifically
meritorious medial research,
including research using human cells, in
accordance with federal, state, and local
laws and with adherence to the strictest
ethical and procedural guidelines. The
Society believes that all promising
avenues that could lead to the cure or
prevention of MS or relieve its most devastating
symptoms by repairing MS
damage must be explored - including
expanding the stem cell lines that are
currently available for federally funded
research.
Similar to the previous version, this
legislation allows federally funded
research on new stem cell lines
generated from excess embryos that
would otherwise be discarded from in
vitro fertilization clinics. But
it also establishes strict
ethical guidelines. Donors
would be required to
provide written consent to
donate the embryos for
research and could not be
paid for the donation.
Generic Biologics
Currently there is no generic competition
for one of the fastest growing and
most expensive category of drugs
known as biological drugs or biopharmaceuticals.
The pending "Access
to Life-Saving Medicine Act" would
allow FDA to approve abbreviated
applications for generic versions of
biotech drugs licensed under the Public
Health Services Act.
Generic drugs (first made
possible under the 1984
H a t c h - W a x m a n
Amendments) have been
extremely successful in
bringing down the high
cost of prescription drugs.
Generic drugs save
patients and payers $10
billion a year. But there is
currently no statutory pathway
for approving lower
cost versions of biotech drugs licensed
under the Public Health Services Act,
even after all patents have expired.
Introducing fair competition for biotech
drugs could be essential to keep the life altering
treatments affordable as well.
For more detailed information and to get
involved, please join the Action Alert
Network. Visit msillinois.org to learn
more.
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