|
Page Updated 4/22/2002 (M)
|
Update
from the ADA for People Travelling with Diabetes Supplies |
|
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
has implemented stepped-up security measures at the nation's
airports in response to last month's tragic events. Some of the
new security measures may affect airline passengers with diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association recognizes the added
inconvenience this may pose for individuals with diabetes, but
understands the necessity to secure airline passenger
safety.
More
Information
|
|
Welcome to Diabetes Advocacy:
Advocacy provides you with links to organizations working to
provide you with the resources needed to promote effective disease management. Learn about legislation, grant
programs, government initiatives and managed care policies that
affect the quality of chronic disease care on the local, state,
and national levels.
Other miscellaneous advocacy resources from
the non-profit sector are also included here.
Prescription
Drug Patient Assistance Programs:
1. Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
To make it easier for physicians to identify the
growing number of programs available for needy
patients, member companies of the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
created a directory which lists pharmaceutical company
programs that provide drugs to physicians whose
patients could not otherwise afford them. The programs
are listed alphabetically by company. Under the entry
for each program is information about how to make a
request for assistance, what prescription medicines
are covered, and basic eligibility criteria.
To view the 2001-2002 directory in Adobe Acrobat PDF
format, click Directory
of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs.
2. Volunteers in Health
Care: RxAssist Program
RxAssist
provides health care providers with information
on accessing more than 100 pharmaceutical manufacturers' patient
assistance programs. These programs usually offer a limited
supply of free prescription medication to eligible patients.
Providers can search RxAssist based on the following variables:
- Company name
- Brand drug name
- Generic Name
- Drug therapy class (ex: asthma,
hyperthyroid, antibiotic, etc)
RxAssist is continuously updated. Volunteers in
Health (VIH) contact all companies in the database at least once
every 3 months to inquire about any changes. VIH also makes
updates routinely as we learn of them--usually from tips
received from physicians' offices and clinics that we then
verify with the company. VIH also routinely adds new programs
and companies to RxAssist.
Act Relative to Diabetes Cost Reduction - Effective August 2, 2000
The Massachusetts "Act
Relative to Diabetes Cost Reduction" signed into law by Governor Paul Celluci,
provides coverage for specified diabetes- related items and services. A
recent provider bulletin from the Commissioner of Insurance for the
Commonwealth, Linda Ruthardt, outlines the provisions of the new law,
referred to as Chapter 81. Under Chapter
81 the following categories of services must be covered under the
insurance packages of all health insurers not excluded by the federal ERISA
law. These services are:
-
Outpatient diabetes
self-management training and education
-
All lab tests and urine
profiles
-
Blood glucose monitors,
voice synthesizers, and visual magnifying aids
-
Therapeutic/molded shoes and
shoe inserts
-
Blood glucose monitoring
strips, urine glucose monitoring strips, ketone strips, lancets, insulin
syringes, insulin pumps and pump supplies, insulin pens, insulin and
oral medications.
|
State & Local Organizations Advocating
for Effective Diabetes Care |
|
|
-
Massachusetts Medical
Society
The purpose of the Massachusetts Medical Society
is to advance medical knowledge, develop and maintain the highest professional and
ethical standards of medical practice and health care,
and promote medical institutions formed on liberal
principles for the health, benefit and welfare of the
citizens of the Commonwealth."
District
Medical Societies, Committees
and Task Forces
|
-
Massachusetts
Nurses Association (MNA)
The Massachusetts Nurses Association advances the
nursing profession by fostering high standards of
nursing practice, promoting the economic and
general welfare of nurses in the workplace, and by
lobbying the legislature and regulatory agencies on
health care issues affecting nurses and the
public.
|
- Massachusetts
Hospital Association (MHA)
Through
leadership in public advocacy, education, and
information, MHA represents and advocates for the
collective interests of its member hospitals and health
systems, and supports their efforts to provide high
quality, cost effective, and accessible care.
|
-
Massachusetts
Home & Health Care Association
The Home & Health Care Association of
Massachusetts is a statewide organization dedicated to
promoting home health care as an integral part of the
health care delivery system.
|
-
Health
Care For All
Health Care For All's Policy Department monitors and
analyzes public policy affecting Massachusetts residents' access to health care.
They provide public policy education to community groups, analysis
of legislation from the state house, lobby and advocate on behalf
of consumers and monitor the various health access programs
offered by the state, such as MassHealth, the Children's Medical
Security Plan, Senior Pharmacy, and others.
|
- Healthy
Homes for Healthy Kids Coalition
Advocates for city and state laws, changes that will
regulate policies and problems, and funding sources to
responsibly address children's health & housing
conditions.
|
|
|
|
|
- Search
Current Legislation & Laws in MA.
The Legislature provides this information as a public
service. To verify information about pending
legislation, you can call either the Senate Clerk's
Office at (617) 722-1276 or the House Clerk's Office at
(617) 722-2356.
|
| Federal/National
Advocacy Resources |
|
|
- National
Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
This organization measures
the quality of America's health care. NCQA is an
independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to evaluate
and report on the quality of the nation’s managed care
organizations. Their web site is a key part of that effort. It
allows them to provide you and millions of other visitors with
information you can use to help decide which health plan you want
to cover you, your family, or your employees.
|
- Agency
for Healthcare Policy & Research
AHRQ, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, is the lead agency charged with supporting
research designed to improve the quality of health care,
reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential
services.
|
- U.
S. Department of Health & Human Services
The Department of Health & Human Services is the
United States government's principal agency for
protecting the health of all Americans and providing
essential human services, especially for those who are
least able to help themselves.
|
|
Other
Resources
To Help You Advocate
|
- Associated
Grantmakers of Massachusetts
AGM is the regional association of grantmakers serving
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the premier
organization in New England supporting nonprofits
engaged in corporate and foundation fundraising. This
dual focus, articulated in the Mission and Goals
statements, uniquely positions AGM to bridge the gap
between grantmakers and grantseekers, providing both
communities with professional support and skill
development opportunities, while elevating the impact of
philanthropy.
|
- The
Non-Profit Zone
This volunteer- run and funded website provides links to
information on to lobby & become actively involved
in activities. They will research federal legislators
working on topics of interest to you at no cost.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![MCDIN Logo [Home]](../images/mcdin_A.gif){kind=small}
![MCDIN Logo [Home]](../images/mcdin_B.gif)
