Go to www.PHCentral.org - Action Central - Legislation You Should Know About
Or to www.PHAssociation - Advocacy - Current Issues
*To contact your Federal Senators go to: http://www.senate.gov/
*To contact your Federal Representative go to: http://www.house.gov/
* Library of Congress for current and past bills: http://thomas.loc.gov/
*These address will lead you to information not only about the Politicians but about items and issues they are currently working on
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Or to www.PHAssociation - Advocacy - Current Issues
*To contact your Federal Senators go to: http://www.senate.gov/
*To contact your Federal Representative go to: http://www.house.gov/
* Library of Congress for current and past bills: http://thomas.loc.gov/
*These address will lead you to information not only about the Politicians but about items and issues they are currently working on
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Other sites of interest: www.ohio.gov/
Click on Judical at Ohio.gov - Ohio Supreme Court Click on Legislative at Ohio.gov - Senators or Representatives This is also a good site www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health
Americans with Disability Act http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Americans with Disability Act http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through a toll-free ADA Information Line. This service permits businesses, State and local governments, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements including questions about the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
ADA specialists are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM (eastern time) except on Thursday when the hours are 12:30 PM until 5:30 PM.
Spanish language service is also available.
For general ADA information, answers to specific technical questions, free ADA materials, or information about filing a complaint, call: 800 - 514 - 0301 (voice)
ADA specialists are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM (eastern time) except on Thursday when the hours are 12:30 PM until 5:30 PM.
Spanish language service is also available.
For general ADA information, answers to specific technical questions, free ADA materials, or information about filing a complaint, call:
800 - 514 - 0301 (voice) 800 - 514 - 0383 (TTY)
Merle Reeseman
Support Group Leader
Support Group Leader
More helpful links on other pages of this site. If you have a question or concern, please let me know.
Do I need a living will if I have a last will and testament?
Yes, your last will and testament deals with matters of property. Your living will deals with your health and personal care. Your last will and testament only kicks in after you die. Living wills are used during life and may be modified by the declarant whenever circumstances change.
How does a living will work?
Through a properly drafted legal document, you name someone to carry out your wishes for your medical care in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Again, you can be very specific as to what treatments you would agree to and which ones you don't want.
Having your wishes on paper can take the pressure off family members to make difficult decisions regarding your care.
The document can be drafted by a lawyer – or you could do it yourself, as long as you follow all the steps that make such documents legal in your state of residence.
It's also a good idea to review your living will with your doctor. The doctor can ensure that you have understood the choices in the living will and that the instruction directive is suitable for your own health situation.
Like a regular will, it's a good idea to update a living will from time to time. Advances in medical science could make today's heroic measures tomorrow's routine procedures.
Yes, your last will and testament deals with matters of property. Your living will deals with your health and personal care. Your last will and testament only kicks in after you die. Living wills are used during life and may be modified by the declarant whenever circumstances change.
How does a living will work?
Through a properly drafted legal document, you name someone to carry out your wishes for your medical care in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Again, you can be very specific as to what treatments you would agree to and which ones you don't want.
Having your wishes on paper can take the pressure off family members to make difficult decisions regarding your care.
The document can be drafted by a lawyer – or you could do it yourself, as long as you follow all the steps that make such documents legal in your state of residence.
It's also a good idea to review your living will with your doctor. The doctor can ensure that you have understood the choices in the living will and that the instruction directive is suitable for your own health situation.
Like a regular will, it's a good idea to update a living will from time to time. Advances in medical science could make today's heroic measures tomorrow's routine procedures.
Living wills focus on life-sustaining treatment and other end-of-life care.
A living will is not operative (i.e., in effect) unless the patient is:
- Incompetent and
- Permanently unconscious or has an end-stage medical condition.
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S 358 GINA the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act . It has passed in the House and in the Senate - PRESIDENT BUSH HAS SIGNED IT!!!! IT'LAW
This page will have changes that are happening in the Political, Medical and Insurance scene. If you know or have any questions or concerns, send them on.
Write/send info to Merle at: OHPA.PHER@gmail.com
Write/send info to Merle at: OHPA.PHER@gmail.comIt's here!!! The new PH bill - HR 1030.
call your Representative to co-sponsor HR 1030
And now S 2803 - Call your Senators
ask them to co-sponsor S 2803
CALL TO ACTION
It’s that time again. The new bill for Pulmonary Hypertension Research is out and it is important for you to make an appointment to visit or call your Federal Representative and Federal Senators. The last Bill in the 110th Congress was HR 6568 and did pass in the House; for the 109th Congress they were ~ HR 3005 and S 1774, they did not pass. All of these bills covered: research, awareness and a data base for the purpose of identifying individuals at risk of developing this condition; to conduct basic and clinical research in the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control and treatment of this disease; to conduct training programs for scientists and health professionals. They are a short read and you should read them. You can go to the Library of Congress link below, type in Pulmonary Hypertension Research or HR 1030 (previous bills were HR 6568 and for the 109th HR 3368). The new bill is similar to the previous bills and is called the Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2009. Congressman Lantos was an advocate for all of us -- it is in his honor and memory.
As you know, our Politicians are usually in their home territory during the month of August, mid November through most if not all of December but that does not mean you have to wait until then to call or visit them. Make an appointment to visit them, go in a group of 4 or less if you want. Tell them your story, chances are PH was not discovered right away. Let them know what you went through and how important early detection of this disease is. Show them the meds you use and most important ASK THEM TO SIGN TO CO-SPONSOR THIS BILL. If you cannot make an appointment to see your Congressperson, meet with their aide, the information will be passed on. Not all Representatives are on the committee that would allow them to know of this bill so be sure to ASK them to co-sponsor HR 1030. If you would prefer to call their local or Federal office and the Congressperson is not in, ask for their Legislative Aide. These are who co-sponsored (and remember some were not re-elected but most were) during the 109th Congress ~ co-sponsors.
If you would like me to go with you, let me know and if my schedule permits, I will meet you at their office.
The Medicare Rights Center they will be hosting monthly free web seminars on important Medicare topics. The monthly seminars will be held on the second Thursday of each month.
To register for these seminars, please visit http://www.medicarerights.org/webinars.html
This is something to really make you wonder about what is going on. Uncle Jay explains the news
HR 6331 passed -- it is law and you need to read all about it. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Read it at Library of congress
Read it at Library of congress
Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 – HR 1708 I ~ Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) phase out the waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits under SSA title XVIII (Medicare); and (2) eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions to become eligible for such benefits. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study the range of disability conditions that can be delayed or prevented if individuals receive access to health care services and coverage before a condition reaches disability levels.
Purpose: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes.
Purpose: A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes.
Hopefully an updated version will be included with the new Health Care Reform Bill
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What do I say when I contact my politician: (and please call between 9am & 5pm) Ask For: Legislative Health Aide if your politician isn't there.
1. Identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak with your representative or their Legislative Health Aide.
2. Introduce yourself and BRIEFLY explain what pulmonary hypertension is and how it impacts you and your family. (i.e. PH is high blood pressure in the vessels between the heart and the lungs. It is deadly, and incurable, we want your help to change that.)
3. Emphasize the importance of research to find new and better treatments, and eventually a cure, for PH.
4. Give your politician or their aide your contact information and ask to be kept informed of the legislator’s actions on your request.
Senator Robert Casey (PA) introduce S 2803 -- the same bill only for the Senate
With YOUR help, this PH bill can now move more quickly toward passing in the House of Representatives and the Senate, then landing on to the President's desk! Time to call our Senators and ask them to co-sponsor this Senate bill --The Tom Lantos Research and Education Act of 2009.
