MS Society throws weight behind complex rehab bills
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue March 18, 2014
WASHINGTON - The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has made bills to create a separate benefit for complex rehab one of its legislative priorities for 2014.
The group adopted a passage of the “Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act” as a priority at its Public Policy Conference March 10-12 in Washington, D.C.
“While the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been a long-time supporter of our federal CRT legislation, they took their support to a much higher level,” stated Don Clayback, executive director of NCART, in a bulletin to members.
The National MS Society held a 90-minute panel discussion at the conference to educate more than 300 attendees about the legislation. Panelists included Clayback; Alex Bennewith, vice president of government relations at the United Spinal Association; Jennifer Digmann, an activist who has MS and uses a power wheelchair; and Laura Weidner, director of federal government relations at the society.
The day after the panel discussion, attendees took their message to the Hill, lobbying for H.R. 942 and S. 948.
“This is another encouraging step in creating greater awareness and recognition of the importance of CRT and the actions needed to protect access,” Clayback said.
Currently, H.R. 942 and S. 948 have 88 and nine co-sponsors, respectively.
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