MA House Docket 2060

Well, that certainly doesn’t sound like a band name.  Neither does “An Act promoting continuity of care for multiple sclerosis treatment,” but that’s what I’ll be talking about here.  In Massachusetts, State Representative Sean Garballey (D-23rd Middlesex County) reintroduced this bill today in the State’s House of Representatives.  It needs a co-sponor or twelve.

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So, what’s in this bill?  Well, first of all, this was originally introduced prior to the outcome of the Presidential election (remember how I used the word “reintroduced”).  This bill fills in some serious coverage gaps with regards to MS disease modifying therapies (DMTs).  If you have MS (or know someone who does), then you’re probably aware that these therapies are not cheap, even with insurance. There’s a long, long list of reasons for that, but for the sake of sanity, it’s sufficient to simply point out that a majority of MS DMTs are biologics and need to be created/grown in a lab, and that takes time, training and a good deal of money.  They’re not drugs in the “generic Tylenol” kind of way.

We know that health insurance companies don’t like the word “expensive.” You’ve likely heard horror stories of cancer patients being dropped by their insurance carriers for being just that.  Some other things insurers can do is limit your treatment options, and there are some that are trying to do just that in MA. This can mean that if an MS patient gets a new job with new insurance, they could be forced to change their MS treatment, based solely on the formulary of their new insurance plan.  This is dangerous and ultimately, far more costly in the long run. In more technical terms:

“This legislation will ensure that insurance coverage for MS disease-modifying treatments is not interrupted due to non-medical insurance policy/formulary decisions.  This bill also provides that the continued coverage for the MS treatment (outside the formulary) shall not be subject to any greater deductible, coinsurance, copayments, or out-of-pocket limits than any other disease-modifying prescription drug for multiple sclerosis provided by the insurer.” –Jake Krilovich, National MS Society

Simply put, it’s a state law that would bar insurance companies from forcing MS patients to use DMTs that don’t work for them. It also bars insurance companies from essentially discriminating against an MS patient by slapping them with higher payments for their disease modifying therapy.

Want to help make sure this is passed, especially seeing as the ACA’s pre-existing conditions laws are being dismantled? Here’s what you can do.

If you live in Massachusetts

  1. Find out who your state (NOT federal) Senator and Representatives are.  If you’re not sure who they are, check out www.wheredoivotema.com.
  2. Drop them a line- call or email and ask them to support HD 2060, “An Act promoting continuity of care for multiple sclerosis treatment.” If you happen to have a personal experience with MS, go ahead and tell them.
  3. Drop Sean Garballey a line and thank him for introducing the bill.
  4. Do it again in a week or so if you haven’t heard back.

If you don’t live in Massachusetts

  1. Drop Sean Garballey a line and thank him for introducing the bill.
  2. If you think his bill would be something your state should introduce, call your state reps and see about getting them to draft a similar bill to Sean’s.
  3. Email MA reps for friends and family members who reside in MA. You’re not a resident, but you’re related to one, and they may listen to you as a result.

 

What happens for this year in terms of shows is up in the air, but at the very least, this is one thing we can do to make the world a slightly less dark.

 

 


A little too quiet..

It’s been fairly quiet here at Crash Safely this year, if you haven’t noticed.  So what gives?

A few things, actually.  There are really only two people behind the scenes at CS, and we’ve been doing it for five straight years.  I’ve pretty much given up my birthday for that long, so the selfish part of me would like it back (thank you very much).

Maybe not quite like this.

Maybe not quite like this.

The other thing is that I have been editing videos for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Casual Fridays series, and the first one happens to fall on a night I would usually book for Crash Safely. I essentially double booked myself, six months in advance.

 

By the way, you should totally go to Casual Fridays- ticket prices are reduced, there’s free food before and after, and you can mingle with orchestra members. If you sit in the “tablet” seating, you can see my work.  (You can subscribe to Casual Fridays, too!)

While I’m doing that, the Night Ridah has been called back into drumming duty with Shiny Beasts. They’re playing a ton lately, but if you haven’t seen them yet, here’s a taste:

 

Also, The Figgs are on tour! With mighty team captain Pete Hayes out with the Figgs, the Maybe Sump’ms won’t have enough time to train for the ride, let alone get the shows together.

The Figgs

So, while we won’t be seeing you for Crash Safely this year,  come see us! I think we’ve got a wide variety of options to choose from- see you soon!

 


More radio!

We haven’t even recovered for a supremely amazing night at the Midway last night, but we’ll be back on the radio tonight!

Join us with Dan Kopko from Watts as we talk Crash Safely Night 2 tonight around 11:15pm on Bay State Rock!

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photo by Mike Oliver

Listen online here or on 97.7 FM/  107.3 FM!


Night 1 Tonight!

We’re getting the last bits ready for tonight!

Amazing music from The Phil Aiken Army, The Dents, Muck and the Mires and The Sprained Ankles…

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Plus, the chance to win:

Boston Harbor Cruises certificate for four to take the USS Constitution Cruise!

Boston Red Sox autographed baseball signed by Dustin Pedroia!

Two tickets to ANY ArtsEmerson performance in the 2015-2016 season!

A specially selected bangle set from ALEX AND ANI / CHARITY BY DESIGN!

Two chances to win 6 lbs of whole bean coffee from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, including a specially selected set by Mike Oliver!

An after work pool party for 20 people, snacks included at Jillian’s Boston!

We’ll see you at the Midway tonight!!