Policy
Photo by Joe Shymanski
Mr. Fox and 200 Parkinson’ s Advocates Go to Washington( continued from cover)
this issue is sure to continue in the foreseeable future.
“ Reforms to our health care system, including changes to the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid, will affect the Parkinson’ s community,” says Ted Thompson, JD, senior vice president of public policy at The Michael J. Fox Foundation.“ Eighty percent of PD patients rely on Medicare for basic health care, and up to one-third of people with Parkinson’ s are eligible for Medicaid. According to a study our Foundation commissioned, the cost of living with PD is estimated to be $ 26,400 per year. That’ s a lot of money for the average American household, and it underscores the necessity of affordable health coverage, as well as more research toward better treatments and a cure.”
ADVOCATES HIGHLIGHT PD COMMUNITY NEEDS ON CAPITOL HILL
Forum attendees participated in sessions on the current state of politics, advocacy best practices and policy issues impacting people with Parkinson’ s and their care partners. Before heading to the Hill to speak with members of Congress, advocates heard from Michael J. Fox, himself attending a bipartisan meeting of House leadership hosted by Majority Whip Steve Scalise( R-LA) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi( D-CA).“ We’ re an active, concerned, involved, informed community that has a right to expect that we get attention when decisions are made,” Michael said, in a panel moderated by Dave Iverson, co-chair of the Foundation’ s Patient Council.
“ This year’ s Forum was remarkable. The sessions were informative and empowering, and when I sat down with my lawmakers I felt well prepared to speak up for the Parkinson’ s community,” says Charles Brown, a longtime advocate from Massachusetts.“ Listening to Michael talk brought tears to my
2017 PARKINSON’ S ADVOCACY AWARD WINNERS
During the 2017 Parkinson’ s Policy Forum, the Foundation presented advocacy awards to five individuals. The recipients were recognized for their exceptional efforts to further policies benefitting people with Parkinson’ s, their families and care partners.
Learn more at michaeljfox. org / 2017advocacyawards
Social Media Advocacy Award: Mary Killian, Kentucky
Year-round Advocacy Award: E. Bruce McEvoy, Florida
Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy( Advocate of the Year): Ron Dover, Kansas
Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service: Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Robin Elliott, CEO emeritus of the Parkinson’ s Disease Foundation
8 The Fox Focus