2019 Summer In-District Congressional Visits

June 28, 2019

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Abby Emanuelson

AVP, Advocacy and Activist

Engagement

Webinar Logistics

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Agenda

• Congressional In-District Meeting

• Summer Meeting Priorities

• Point of Contact & Scheduling Process

• Resources and Reminders

• Questions & Answers

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Congressional In-District Meetings

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Courtney Eiterich

MS Activist

Congressional In-District Meeting

• District Office

– Constituent Services

• Resolve constituent

issues with federal

agencies.

– Meetings around district

on behalf and with

member

– Meetings on policy

• Share information with

D.C. staff

• Capitol Office

– Policy and legislation

– Meetings in Capitol with

constituents and

stakeholders

• Advise members on

policy

– Work with district office to

understand needs of

district

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Successful In-district Legislative Visits

• Come with a PLAN using your Wow-How-Now

• Introduce yourself

• Start with a compliment

• Ask about their MS knowledge/connection

• Share your story and provide facts

• Make the ASK!

• Thank them AND send them a thank you note

• Fill out your “Follow Up” form and be sure to actually

follow up!

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Leslie RitterSenior Director, Federal Government

Relations

Who are we targeting?

• Transportation subcommittee on emergency

management

• Ways and Means

• Energy and Commerce

• Appropriations subcommittee on Defense and Labor,

Health, and Human Services

• Education and Labor subcommittee on Health,

Education, Labor, and Pensions

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Ask: Fund MS Priorities at the House recommended levels

Federal Funding of MS Priorities

Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Process is underway

‒ House “minibus” spending bill (H.R. 2740) passed June 19th.

• MSRP- $16 million

• NNCSS – $5 million

• Lifespan Respite- $10 million

• NIH- $41.1 billion

– Senate

• Will begin the process shortly and we will update on

progress throughout the recess period.

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Budget Agreement is Needed in order to finalize spending bills.

Federal Funding of MS Priorities

• Budget agreement between Congress and the Administration is

necessary in order to finalize fiscal year 2020 spending bills that

fund the federal government.

• The Budget Control Act of 2011 put in place automatic across the

board spending cuts, also called sequestration, which will trigger

if no agreement is reached.

• There is the possibility of a continuing resolution or government

shutdown on Oct. 1st if spending bills are not completed by the

end of the fiscal year.

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Wow-How-Now

Wow With nearly 1 million people living with MS, federal appropriations for research and programs is essential.

How Congress and the Administration must reach a budget agreement so that the federal appropriations process can be completed for fiscal year 2020.Congress should fund MS priorities at the House recommended levels. These priorities include the National Institutes of Health, MS Research Program at the DoD, the Lifespan Respite Program and the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System.

Now [HOUSE] Thank you for increasing the funding for MS priorities, we urge you to make sure these numbers are reflected in the final Labor, Health, and Humans Services and Defense spending bills for fiscal year 2020.[SENATE] Please fund MS priorities at the House recommended levels within the final Labor, Health, and Human Services and Defense spending bills for fiscal year 2020.

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Grant CouchSenior Director, Federal Government

Relations

Disaster Relief Planning for People with

Disabilities

• Two bills to assure needs of people with disabilities and elderly are addressed in disaster preparations

– The Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act will:

• Include people with disabilities and seniors in planning/preparations;

• Assure training for responders on unique needs before, during and after a disaster;

• Assure coordination between responders and compliance with ADA and civil rights protections

– The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act will:

• Ensure continuity of all Medicaid services for those forced to relocate across state;

• Guarantee 100% federal payment to states for Medicaid services

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Wow-How-Now

Wow People with special needs must have a better informed, coordinated and reliable federal response to ensure that has access to essential recovery and support systems ¨ Interruptions to access to care--especially prescription medication—can lead to disease progression and disability for people living with MS.

How The Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act, (REAADI) will address serious gaps in disaster preparation. This ensures that people with disabilities and the elderly are part of emergency preparations at the local, state and national levels. The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act will make Medicaid available when a recipient relocates across state lines as a result of a disaster.

Now Cosponsor the REAADI Act: S. 1775/HR 3208

Cosponsor the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act S 1754/HR 3215

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Surprise Billing

• Progress since PPC

• Lower Health Care Costs Act advances:

– Addresses emergency and non-emergency situations.

– Notification requirements.

– Positive language around provider directory accuracy.

– Addresses untimely bills.

– Favors health plans over providers over payment rates, but keeps individuals out of disputes.

• House Energy and Commerce has draft legislation on surprise billing.

• Continue to tell your stories.

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Wow-How-Now

Wow "I checked with my insurer to make sure the medical practice was in-network. Then I was given a different doctor than the one I made an appointment with, and later got a large medical bill for seeing an out-of-network doctor!”

How Protect individuals. If someone doesn’t choose to go to an out-of-network provider, they shouldn’t have to pay for it. Protect individuals from unexpected medical bills when they are treated at an in-network facility or are taken to an emergency department.

A solution to the problem is needed at the federal level because states do not regulate certain health plans.

Now Pass legislation to protect individuals from surprise medical bills.

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Resources and Scheduling

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Laura Bennett (LB)Senior Manager, Grassroots Advocacy

Point of Contact & Process for Scheduling In-

District Recess Meetings

• Government Relations staff is your primary point of contact

and the primary organizer of scheduling – be sure to

check with him/her before scheduling any meeting

• Email laura.bennett@nmss.org if you do not know who your local

Government Relations staff contact is

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Resources

All in-district visit resources will be posted on:

• www.nationalmssociety.org/augustrecess;

– Wow-How-Now

– Sample visit request letter

– Leave behinds, and more

• The MS Activist app:

– Instructions on how to download the app will be posted on the

website above.

• All scheduled visits should be entered online:

https://forms.gle/CAZNKQJY8QgPPz9G7

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Questions and Answers

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