Académique Documents
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MSConnECtIon
DECEMbER 6-12 IS NATIONAL FLU VACCINATION WEEk
The CDC has scheduled this week for December, in the hope that the second shot will be available by then to protect against H1N1 (popularly known as Swine Flu). Yes, people may need two shots for full protection this year and yes, this means people with MS and those who care for them or live in the household. Flu vaccines are safe and highly recommended for those with MS as long as a killed or deactivated vaccine is used. The regular flu shot is made this way. A nasal spray called FluMist Intranasal is not recommended for people with MS, especially for individuals taking Novantrone, Cytoxan, Imuran, or methotrexate, because it uses a weakened live vaccine. FluMist is considered safe for healthy children and teens, ages 5-17, and for healthy adults, ages 18-49. All others must roll up their sleeves for an injection. At press time, the race to produce and test a vaccine for H1N1 was still in progress, with availability expected in October. It is possible that 2128 days should elapse between the first and second vaccination. Recommendations for people with MS will likely be exactly the same as advice for regular flu vaccine, according to Dr. Aaron Miller, the Societys Chief Medical Officer.
MICHIGAN CHAPTER
FLU InformatIon
flu is a menace, but not a reason for panic. flu shots work. Check out www. nationalMSsociety.org/ flu or your healthcare provider for the most up to date information.
MSConnECtIon
a PUbLICatIon of tHE natIonaL mULtIPLE SCLEroSIS SoCIEty, mICHIgan CHaPtEr
21311 Civic Center Dr. Southfield, mI 48076-3911 Ph: 800 344 4867 or 248 351 2190 fax: 248 350 0029 E-mail: info@mig.nmss.org Chapter Chair Dean Munger Chapter President Elana Sullivan Newsletter Editor Chris Collins the national multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. the national multiple Sclerosis Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned. Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published, experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. the national multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician. the national multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of mS.
Copyright 2009 national mS Society, Michigan Chapter
CHAPTER NEWS
NEWLy DIAGNOSED
Last year, the Society convened an international task force to create guidelines that can help neurologists distinguish mS from its look-alikes. the paper, published in Multiple Sclerosis (2008 nov;14[9]: 115774), is free to practitioners, who may download it at msj.sagepub.com/cgi/ content/abstract/14/9/1157.
personal and family crisis in anyones terms. now, finding good professional support for emotional health has just become a bit easier. the Society is partnering with HelpPro, a referral service for people seeking a qualified professional provider. Visit helppro.com for information about who practices in our area. Designed for the Hispanic family living with mS, the information kit provides resources on how to maintain quality of life, navigate the health-care system, and more. Please explore nationalMSsociety.org/tomecontrol.
NEWLy DIAGNOSED
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ADVOCACy
LEGAL bRIEFS
by Ina Cohen
There are many legal issues that have particular impact on the lives of those diagnosed with MS. While the local chapter cannot provide legal services, it does try to provide general information and referrals to resources. Ina C. Cohen is an attorney and member of the Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, Inc. the second aspect to the inquiry relates to the terms of the insurance. the first health insurance plan might provide for all prescription drug coverage but the second plan to which you are considering a transfer may only provide coverage for a limited group of prescription drugs. the second carrier is not required to provide any more benefits than those for which the plan provides. you need to investigate what is covered under your spouses insurance plan before you change. Consider the hospitalization rules (i.e. number of days, type of room [semiprivate, etc.], co-pays), outpatient services, rehabilitation benefits, annual and lifetime limits, etc., before proceeding. Changing insurance in these times is risky and one should be very cautious before proceeding. If you are in doubt, consult someone knowledgeable in this area (i.e. attorney, area agency on aging, representatives at the insurance companies involved). Additional comment: If you are in a group plan and you can no longer participate in it and have no other group plan to join, the same federal law provides that your last group health insurance provider must sell you an individual policy if it routinely sells individual policies in your state and it cannot have a pre-existing condition exclusion or waiting period. this policy would not have to be identical to your prior group plan in terms of benefits. WARNING the above only applies to health insurance, no other type of insurance (i.e. disability).
Q: A:
Im required to pay a portion of my health insurance premium but I could be included in my spouses employment plan, is there a risk if I switch? there are two aspects that must be considered in this situation. the first concerns whether your pre-existing condition will be covered. If you have a diagnosis of mS or other medical condition before you begin coverage, it is considered a pre-existing condition. Some insurance plans deny coverage for pre-existing conditions or delay coverage (after the passage of 6 or 12 months, etc.). If your current insurance coverage is through a group plan and you are switching to another group plan, federal law provides that you are entitled to credit for the time in the prior plan to enable continuous coverage if you: a. obtain a certificate from the first insurance carrier and provide it to the new carrier and b. the time period between the termination of the first coverage and enrollment in the second plan does not exceed 63 days. medicare and medicaid are considered group plans. Employment provided insurance is a group plan.
6 | JoIn tHE moVEmEnt: nationalMSsociety.org
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
ADVOCACy
Washington, says, You need a prescription for a regular CONGRESS DEbATES HEALTHyou need oneREFORMtoexercise program just as much as CARE for medications slow down Programs or control by ruth Linnemann, Advocacy andyour diseaseDirector your symptoms. You may need Health care reform continues to be front page to ask your physician for that prescription and the Kaiser foundation website. Legislation for a referral to a physical therapist or a rehabilitation physician news as Congress seeks to address major proposed by the Senate and House Committees and you may need to educate the therapist about MS. As Dr. issues in our current health care system. and other Democrats and republicans are Kraft points out, many PTs are trained in sports medicine or how the national mS Society health care reform recapped in plain language. you can reach to deal with the aftereffects of accidents or stroke. Ask about their advocacy centers on the Societys Health Care MS. Its appropriate updated a PT to reform the experience with Kaisers regularly to invite health contact reform Principles (nationalMSsociety.org/ website at: www.kff.org/healthreform/ Societys Professional Resource Center at HealthProf_info@nmss. reformprinciples). sidebyside.cfm/. org to learn more about MS.
two major Senate bills are being Its also appropriate to develop an exercise program that ts your debated in the at the Kaiser website you can choose which lifestyle and Senate finance Committee and the Senate appeals to you personally. The Illinoisas specific proposals to compare, as well researchers analyzed Health, Education, Labor, and Pension studies on exercise, not formal physical therapy sessions. characteristics that interest you within Mary, diagnosed in 1997 (HELP) Committee. three House of those proposals. the tool also allows users representative committees to print out LIVING WITH MS WHERE TO FINDthe comparison of the merged their work into characteristic they selected. You can read or download PDFs of Society one huge bill brochures at nationalMSsociety.org/brochures. While there is (Hr3200).ALL ABOUT IT IN Or call 1-800-344-4867 for print copies. For READ promising language in the legislative easy searching, brochures are divided into SOCIETY BROCHURES each proposal including process is eight categories: General Information, Newly prohibiting pre-existing extremely complex Diagnosed, Employment Issues, Staying Whether youre recentlyfrom condition considerations, curbing and dynamic, changing diagnosed, or managing Well, Managing Specic Issues, Managing an old friend of a symptom, the Society offers out of pocket costs, repealing lifetime week to week. Hundreds of Major Changes, For Children & Teenagers and brochures on a range of issues related to MS. caps, en Espaol. You can also download Informacinno bill completely mirrors the mS amendments were introduced These brochures are reviewed by experts in a PDFcommunitys principles. Some of thethe catalog with brief descriptions of all bills and voted on in each committee. a MS and regularly revised for the most accurate contain support for long clients. publications the Society offersterm care. conference possible. informationcommittee will negotiate differences between the House and EXTRA!Involved Get EXTRA! Some brochures this fall. in 2009 include Senate bill later updated OneIt is very important updatedSociety brochure regularly for mS with breaking Living with MS; Multiple Sclerosis and members to make their views and health news is Disease-Modifying Drugs. The online Your Emotions; Research Directions in the Kaiser family foundation, a widely care (nationalMSsociety.org/DMD) version needs known to legislators. Join the MS; Win-Win Approach to Reasonable respected non-partisan organization includes the most recent information possible on movement at www.nationalMSsociety. Accommodations; Food for Thought: MS and offers a great resource for those who the disease-modifying drugs Avonex, Betaseron, Nutrition; A Guide for Caregivers; Solving org/advocacy. want to investigate provisions in the Copaxone, Novantrone, Rebif and Tysabri. Cognitive Problems;reform debate. and national health care and Depression The booklet covers how they are taken, their Multipleview a side-by-side comparison of you can Sclerosis. In addition, a number brochures are now available in Spanish. Adems, benets, side effects, and how to pay for them. that summarizes key health reform bills on Check back regularly for new reports on DMDs. tenemos disponibles folletos en espaol.
4 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org toLL frEE nUmbEr 1 800 344 4867 | 7
NEWS
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
RESEARCH
Washington, says, You need a prescription for a regular exercise program just as much as you need one for medications to slow down your disease or control your symptoms. You may need to ask your physician for that prescription and for a referral to a physical therapist or a rehabilitation physician and you may need to educate the therapist about MS. As Dr. Kraft points out, many PTs are trained in sports medicine or how to deal with the aftereffects of accidents or stroke. Ask about their experience with MS. Its appropriate to invite a PT to contact the Societys Professional Resource Center at HealthProf_info@nmss. org to learn more about MS. Its also appropriate to develop an exercise program that ts your lifestyle and appeals to you personally. The Illinois researchers analyzed studies on exercise, not formal physical therapy sessions.
WHERE TO FIND
You can read or download PDFs of Society brochures at nationalMSsociety.org/brochures. Or call 1-800-344-4867 for print copies. For easy searching, brochures are divided into eight categories: General Information, Newly Diagnosed, Employment Issues, Staying Well, Managing Specic Issues, Managing MONEy MATTERS Major Changes, For Children & Teenagers and Informacin en Espaol. You can also download a PDF catalog with brief descriptions ofmake carefully review the 2010 options and all the publications the Societycoming year. Watch for the best choices for the offers clients. on increased costs to you and other changes One brochure regularly updated with breaking theyre planning for 2010. reforms to medicare news is Disease-Modifying Drugs. The online are in the news but no changes have been version (nationalMSsociety.org/DMD) made, so consideration recent information possible includes the mostof the donut hole remains on important. the disease-modifying drugs Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone,information contact Medicare at For more Novantrone, Rebif and Tysabri. The booklet coversvisit medicare.gov, or call us 800-MEDICARE, how they are taken, their benets, side effects, and how to pay for them. and ask to speak with an MS Navigator. Check back regularly for new reports on DMDs.
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GOT COVERAGE?
a letter from your current drug plan for details EXTRA! EXTRA!
LIVING WITH MS
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NEWLY DIAGNOSED
REGIONAL NEWS
Washington, a MICHIGAN CHAPTER just says, You need need one for medications toexercise PROGRAMprescription for a regular slow program as much as you CALENDAR down your disease or control your symptoms. We will be offering two opportunities to You may need attend 8 Hours to a Lifetime of Relationship to ask your physician for that prescription and for affected Satisfaction, a program for couples a referral to a physical therapist or a rehabilitation physician their by mS who would like to strengthen and you may need to educate the therapist about MS. As Dr. Kraft points relationship. you will learn problem solving out, many PTs are trained in sports medicine or how techniques, communication skills,to deal with the aftereffects of accidents or stroke. Ask about their and much experience with more. the program will be held on a Saturday in MS. Its appropriate to invite a PT to contact the Societys Professional Resource Center at HealthProf_info@nmss. the metro Detroit area and on a Saturday on the western side of the state. Look fororg to learn more about MS. a brochure in the mail early next year. Its also appropriate to develop an exercise program that ts your 2009 Annual Meeting lifestyle and appeals to you personally. The Illinois researchers our winter 2009 teleconference series drew on exercise,Recognition breakfast and not formal physical therapy sessions. Mary, diagnosed in 1997threeanalyzed studies hundreds of participants for interesting a Celebration of Volunteers and and engaging presentations. Winter 2010 will top fundraisers LIVING WITH MS WHERE TO FIND bring another exciting teleconference series to Saturday, November 21, 2009 you so you can listen and learn in the comfort You can read or download PDFs of Society VisTaTech Center Livonia MI of your own home. Watch your mail for an brochures at nationalMSsociety.org/brochures. announcement about the upcoming 2010 Or call 1-800-344-4867 for print copies. For READ ALL ABOUT IT IN Special Thanks to: Winter Teleconference Series. easy searching, brochures are divided into SOCIETY BROCHURES Online eight categories: General Information, Newly Please watch your mail for all programs. For more information, or to register, go Diagnosed, Employment Issues, Staying to and phone registration is currently available for Whether youre recently diagnosed, or managing Well, Managing Specic Issues, Managing www.nationalMSsociety.org/mig or call: all programs. For more information please call an old friend of a symptom, the Society offers 800.344.4867, press 2, & Teenagers and Major Changes, For Children ext 224 800-344-4867, option 1. brochures on a range of issues related to MS. Informacin en Espaol. You can also download These brochures are reviewed by experts in a PDF catalog with brief descriptions of all the MS and regularly revised for the most accurate publications the Society offers clients. information possible.
MOVING TOGETHER
Some brochures updated in 2009 include Living with MS; Multiple Sclerosis and Your Emotions; Research Directions in MS; Win-Win Approach to Reasonable Accommodations; Food for Thought: MS and Nutrition; A Guide for Caregivers; Solving Cognitive Problems; and Depression and Multiple Sclerosis. In addition, a number of brochures are now available in Spanish. Adems, tenemos disponibles folletos en espaol.
4 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org
EXTRA! EXTRA!
One brochure regularly updated with breaking news is Disease-Modifying Drugs. The online version (nationalMSsociety.org/DMD) includes the most recent information possible on the disease-modifying drugs Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Novantrone, Rebif and Tysabri. The booklet covers how they are taken, their benets, side effects, and how to pay for them. Check back regularly for new reports on DMDs.
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MONEy MATTERS
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FUNDRAISING
Walk MS 2010!
Walk mS will be expanding to new sites in 2010! Details will be released very soon about our new locations. get involved in your community by raising pledges, starting a team, volunteering, or making a donation. For more information visit our website: nationalMSsociety.org/mig or call (248) 351-2190.
FUNDRAISING
about mS noW! over 1,400 people joined together this year and collectively raised close to $800,000 to help the 18,000 people in michigan diagnosed with mS. Special congratulations to our top fundraiser, Ely tama, who raised over $17,624! While there were several changes in 2009, including the addition of a road ride to our fall breakaway, we are looking forward to bringing even greater changes in 2010. We will soon be sharing exciting information on the addition of a fourth event to our cycling series in michigan, giving participants an even greater variety of rides to choose from.
We hope youll save the following dates and join us in 2010. West Michigan: June 12 13th Mid Michigan: July 17 18th Fall breakaway: September 11th
bike MS 2010!
bike mS great Lakes breakaway strives to offer riders of all experience levels a personal challenge along fully supported routes and we invite you to join us for the ride of your life.
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FUNDRAISING
Golf in 2010!
Love to golf? Join us in 2010 for the mS Longest Day of golf. With more host courses and dates to choose from, you wont want to miss the opportunity to play as many rounds of golf as you can fit in on one day! Check our website for updates: nationalMSsociety.org/mig or call us at (248) 351-2190 for more information.
Team Up in 2010!
If you would like to form a new team for bike mS, Walk mS, or the mS Longest Day of golf events, or if you would like support for your existing team, please contact us at: (248) 351-2190 ext. 212. thank you to the many outstanding individuals and companies that organized events to benefit the national mS Society, michigan Chapter! In 2009, Community Events raised over $135,000 to help create a world free of mS! Highlights include tony rubinos Thrilla at the Villa which raised over $39,000 and the 7th annual Hacker golf Scramble organized by Scott and Ruth Crichton (pictured above) which brought in $15,000!! If you would like to learn more about how you can become a Community Event organizer, please email: communityevent@ mig.nmss.org or call 248-351-2190 ext. 210.
Volunteers Shine
thank you to the hundreds of volunteers that come out each year and lend their helping hands and dedicated hearts to the michigan Chapter! We could not do it without you! Volunteer registration will open in the beginning of 2010 for Walk mS and bike mS. We hope to see all you all again next year!
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Please check the appropriate box below, correct the label then return to National MS Society, MI Chapter q Name change or misspelled q Address change q Remove from mailing list q Received more than one copy q Please send me my MS Connection via e-mail. My e-mail address is: ____________________________
EQUIPMENT CLASSIFIEDS
Hercules 3000 Lift. Stored for 3 years. Like new. Paid $800. asking for $200. Call Bruce at (734) 788-4127. Electric Scooter. almost new. Electric hoist. Car trunk size. For more information and price call Eddie at (248) 661-3835. 1997 Ford Aerostar. 91,000 miles. good tires and overall appearance. Has Imago Wheelchair Lift and hatchback. asking $3,000 or best offer. Call Barbara at (734) 455-6588. Merits MP3-Gemini Powerchair. Used twice. needs two new batteries. Has air pump and basket. four wheels. burgundy color. asking $700. Call Jack at (734)324-8883 or (734) 934-3803.
Pride Legend Scooter. Six months old. Like new. top of line. Power seat with headrest. on-board charger. Champagne color. Paid $4,100, asking $1,500 or best offer. Lift chair. new. asking $200. Everest Jennings Wheelchair. Chrome. asking $200. Shower Seat. asking $25. Two Walkers. asking $25 each. Call Loria at (586) 939-8521. bruno VSL 690 Super XL Curb-Sider. With up and down telescoping. around four years old but only used for two years. all black. two different attachments for wheel chair. Can be used as a power chair. Paid $3,000 new. asking $250. Call Jon or DAnn at (810) 629-5723.