Subject: 'CIRCUIT BREAKERS' PASSES ILLINOIS

From:

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 17:40:30 EST

A Great Big Thank You To All Advocates,

WE DID IT!!!  House Bill 1436, Adding Multiple Sclerosis to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief  and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act (commonly called Circuit Breakers) passed the Illinois House of Representatives, 95 Votes-Yes, 23-Present, 0-No. Our chief sponsors were Rep. Jack McGuire of Joliet, 815-730-8600 and Rep. Jim Meyer of Bolingbrook, 630-759-3465.  If you have a minute, especially if you are a constituent, it is nice to thank our sponsors; and, of course, if your representative voted yes, thank your representative.

Of course, there is more work to be done.  Now, it is on to the Senate, where  SB293 has been assigned to the Revenue Committee.  Our chief sponsors are Rep. Christine Radogno of Lemont and Rep. Barak Obama of Chicago.  Now we need to call the members of the Revenue Committee and ask the members of the Revenue Committee when SB293 comes up for a hearing to pass SB293.  Below are the members with a link to their phone numbers.

Revenue Committee Members

Role Senator Party
Chairperson : Terry Link, Highwood D
Vice-Chairperson : Jacqueline Y. Collins, Chicago D
Member: Denny Jacobs, Moline D
Member: Edward D. Maloney, Chicago D
Member: Donne E. Trotter, Chicago D
Member: Patrick Welch, LaSalle D
Minority Spokesperson : Chris Lauzen, Aurora R
Member: Wendell E. Jones, Palatine R
Member: William E. Peterson, Prairie View R
Member: James Pate Philip Addison R

Below is a sample script and five reasons why we need to add MS drugs to the Circuit Breaker bill.

 "Senator_______________, I am  (state your name) calling to ask your help to increase access to prescription drugs for people with Multiple Sclerosis.  MS is a progressive and often disabling disease that can in many cases be slowed by the use of disease modifying drugs.  Unfortunately, these drugs are expensive.  Many who could benefit from these drugs  and medications which treat the sometimes disabling symptoms don't receive them because they do not have prescription drug insurance coverage.  As a result, the disease progresses causing increasingly greater disability until full time nursing care is required. 

We are asking the Senate Revenue Committee for help by expanding the Illinois Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to cover prescription drugs for MS. Please vote  in support of SB293 when a hearing is held in the Revenue Committee on SB293.  Can you help us?

If yes, Thank you so much."  If unsure, Can someone from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society call you?"  If no, "Can I ask why you are opposed?

Additional talking points you can use:

Five reasons why Multiple Sclerosis needs to be added to "Circuit Breaker"

1)      People 65 years and older or disabled, receiving Medicare and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, would benefit from the program. 

2)      More people with Multiple Sclerosis would have access to the drugs that reduce the risk of disability.  

3)      Access to these drugs, could increase the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis (many reliant on state benefits) returning to the work force.

 4)      The availability of drugs that slow the progression and treat the often disabling symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis should decrease the number of people accessing long-term care services as well as: 

a)      Ease the burden on these already limited state services

b)      Save the state of Illinois revenue

c)      Allow people to live with dignity in a community environment with their families and friends

5)      People with Multiple Sclerosis like the general population have the right to be as healthy as possible. This promotes healthier families and better communities.

Thanks one and all.  You are the best!

Yolanda Treiguts, Chair
Advocacy/Government Relations Committee