health care policy issues, attended several national health
care policy forums and alliance for health care reform
discussions, and provided medical insight and prior
experiences to many health care issues raised by constituents
and organizations. In addition, I discussed pertinent issues
with the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee, helped
formulate questions for the WM Subcommittee Hearings,
and assisted in the drafts of legislation. I worked most
closely with Rep. Herger’s Senior Policy Advisor. Although
the majority of my time was focused on current health
care policy issues and Medicare reform, I remained current
with other important political issues, especially within the
House’s Ways and Means Committee.
During the second year of the 112th Congress, Rep.
Herger introduced the “Save and Strengthen Medicare
Act of 2012” that included five principles of reform, each
with a history of bipartisan support, and based on the
principle that cost savings should be driven by physicians
and patients.
I encourage physicians and other health care providers to
become involved in the political process. Although voting
is a privilege that significantly impacts political decisions
and should be exercised, I would encourage health care
providers to stretch beyond the ballot and become part
of the process. However, this involvement should not be
limited to providers. Frequently, health care providers try
to become the voice of their patients and relate their stories
on Capitol Hill. Patients, however, would serve as better
and more sympathetic storytellers.
Therefore, I encourage patients to get involved. You
are important and your voice does count and will make
a difference. Unfortunately, there is a stigma associated
with individuals with headaches, especially migraine. The
foundations of our government were established more than
200 years ago, and continue to allow us to be influential in
political decisions.
The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy
(AHDA) is an organization comprised of physicians,
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Volume 4, Issue 3 • 2015
patients, researchers, families, and other individuals who
are concerned about the impact of headache on patients,
their families, and the public in general. The AHDA offers
opportunities of advocacy to help improve the lives of
patients with headache disorders and the profession of
headache medicine. The National Headache Foundation is
a member organization, which serves as a great resource for
those who would like to become more involved in advocacy
for patients with headache disorders and the profession of
headache medicine. Each year, the National Headache
Foundation and other advocacy groups for headache,
participate in “Headache on the Hill.” These groups send
representatives to meet with various congressional offices
in hopes to garner support for research funds for headache
issues and raise awareness among legislators.
Overall, the legislative fellowship was very gratifying,
enabling me to gain some legislative insight in a brief time.
I was fortunate to be include in discussions on important
health policy issues which were very helpful and extremely
instrumental in creating a rewarding fellowship experience
for me, becoming more knowledgable and/or involved
in health care policy especially as it relates to headache
medicine.
Headache medicine is a medical speciality that often
requires the effort of a team. I encourage all of us to become
more informed and examine health care policy-related
legislation (actual and proposed) as well as proposed rules
through direct, unfiltered sources. Together, we can help
foster positive changes that can improve the health of our
nation and affect generations to come. HW
There are different ways that individuals can support the mission of the National
Headache Foundation through donations. A present donation of money or other
items of value is the most frequent manner of support. Provisions for specific
bequests or residual bequests in one’s will or trust are often utilized. As part of
one’s estate planning or planned giving, an individual can provide for charitable
giving that may minimize gift and estate taxes while providing for (a) the smooth
transfer of ownership, (b) the care and support of dependents, and (c) the
avoidance of disputes among survivors.
Three commonly used planned giving vehicles are:
1. Charitable remainder annuity trust. Assets (generally securities)
are transferred to a trust. The trust makes fixed annual payments
to the donor or other specified beneficiaries named by the donor.
When the trust terminates upon the death of the donor or other
specified beneficiaries, the remainder of the assets in the trust pass
to the charity. A trust document is required. The donor retains the
ability to change the designated charity.
2. Charitable remainder unitrust. Assets are transferred to a trust.
The donor or other specified beneficiaries named by the donor
receive fluctuating payouts from the trust (a percentage of the value
of the principal) and, upon the death of the donor or other specified
beneficiaries, the remainder of the 76WG276W2F