Raleigh Transit Authority Public Hearing Notice:

WHEN: 4:00 PM, Thursday February 11, 2010
WHERE: 2nd Floor, Municipal Building, Raleigh City Council Chambers

The Raleigh Transit Authority, RTA, is holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 11 to discuss the proposed Implementation Plan for the Accessible Raleigh Transportation System -
Alternatives Analysis. Following a presentation and discussion regarding future route changes, staff will present the five proposed implementation objectives derived from the Accessible Raleigh Transportation System - Alternatives Analysis. A Public Comment Period will immediately follow the presentation.

The objectives include: (1) Revising client eligibility/certification process, (2) Initiatint group trips for common origins and destinations, (3) Establishing formal relationships with vendors, (4) Certifying and training Taxi driver (5) Pursuing Medicaid provider status.

If you are unable to attend, written comments may be submitted to the following
address:

Richard Vinson, Senior Planner
Accessible Raleigh Transportation
P.O. Box 590, Raleigh, NC 27602-0590
or email directly to Richard at:
ART@ci.raleigh.nc.us

All comments will become part of public record if received by Thursday
February 18, 2010.

How My Health Care Costs Affect Others *by Alex O'Connor

February 3, 2010
How My Health Care Costs Affect Others
by Alex O'Connor

Posted to activisMS on Friday, February 5, 2010

My health care costs take up a large portion of our income. You may say “So that is your problem”. Actually it becomes a lot of peoples problems. I have five animals who do not get yearly exams and dental cleanings like they used to. The veterinarian is losing hundreds of dollars. Multiply that by other clients who are cutting back and he may have to cut back and lose an employee. Then that employee suffers. I canceled all service contracts with plumbing, hvac, and pest control companies. Again if others have to do the same those companies will lose employees. Some of these employees will lose insurance adding to the health care problem. I rarely get a hair cut any more. Clothes come from the Goodwill. We will not buy another car until the house is paid off in ten years. We will not be going on vacation. I have not flown since the eighties. The mall is a place to walk for exercise in bad weather. Even the hardware store is seeing less of us. I closed down most of my credit cards so banks and stores are not making money on interest. Eating out is rare and far between. If you work in fast food you are out of luck with my business. I even had to quit my yoga class due to cost.
I used to give to charity. Now I have nothing to spare. Yes many people and organizations are hurting as more and more of us have to put a large portion of our income into our medical costs. It is no different for a State or the Country.

What can we do for you?

One of our goals here at the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to provide our members and readers with access to helpful and important information. Please leave a comment if you personally have followed any of the posted links, plan to in the near future, or have any follow up questions. We will continue to work hard at meeting your needs. Also, be on the look out for our advocacy and interest survey coming out soon! This will be a great opportunity to voice your personal concerns and direct our policy efforts over the next two years.

Accessibility at DOT facilities

In 2009, the North Carolina Department of Transportation(DOT) conducted a statewide survey on the accessibility of its buildings. They found problems with 60 driver’s license offices and 39 license tag agencies. The type and severity of problems range. Some buildings have no accessible parking, while other facilities do not have accessible bathrooms, water fountains or counter tops.

The NC DOT will be working with advocacy groups to resolve these critical issues. Recently, a NC DOT representative spoke with the Raleigh Mayors Committee for People With Disabilities as part of the outreach step in the DOT's plan for having all buildings, facilities, and modes of transportation ADA compliant. The next step for the DOT is to determine the cost of bringing all facilities into compliance with the ADA. The final step is to make a recommendation. Philip Bickham, director of DOT’s office of civil rights, told the News and Observer, “he hopes to develop a plan during the first three months of the year.”

If you experience problems at your local DMV or other state buildings that do not comply with Americans Disability Act, or would like to be participate in a community meeting, please let us know.

Long-Term Care Services & Supports You Should Know About !

Nearly a quarter of individuals living with MS will require long-term care support and services at some point during the course of their disease. In the past decade, North Carolina's long-term services have suffered due to increased service costs and a rising demand for assistance. Luckily, North Carolina received a new line of funding and the Office of Long-Term Services and Supports, a division of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, has a plan to revamp the processes of applying for as well as issuing aid. New procedures encourage integration both in the delivery of care as well as the handling of information.

The grant provides funds for a number of new programs. The Community Resource Connection or CRC is a program available in several counties. The CRC is a unique state program because it strictly believes in a person-centered approach that acknowledges the needs of individuals and their care-givers. (Did you know that one in five Americans provide care to another adult?) Also, the CRC is part of the No Wrong Doors Policy, a policy that aims to reduce departmental overlaps. Additionally, it allows citizens a linear path in acquiring services and enables state departments to cooperate by sharing information. This eliminates unnecessary paperwork, reduces wait periods, and therefore serves more people, quicker, and at a lower cost per unit without compromising quality of care. One No Wrong Doors amenity that I strongly suggest taking advantage of is NC CARE. Another policy provided is Living Healthy, which provides Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs, that are scientifically proven to positively impact participants.

Additionally, late last year, North Carolina received a federal grand for the Lifespan Respite Care Program. According to the project summary, collaborations between a number of departments within the Department of Health and Human Services, "seek to enhance and expand the quality and availability of lifespan respite services for all age groups throughout NC."

MS Physical Therapy Scholarship Recipients Graduate From UNC

In August, the first recipients of the Physical Therapy MS Scholarship are set to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill. Physical Therapy is a specialized area of health care that is especially important to the health and overall wellness of those diagnosed with MS. People living with MS who see a physical therapist regularly experience benefits such as, improvement in balance and mobility, a decrease in weakness and fatigue, and can ultimately improve their long term mobility.

The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the UNC-Chapel Hill Division of Physical Therapy established the Physical Therapy MS Curriculum and Scholarship Fund at the Medical Foundation of NC. Physical therapists are in high demand in our state and across the nation. Our state is privileged to have programs like UNC's that produce such invaluable health care specialists.



Erica Byrne, seen in the youtube video, along with Kasey Gore and Kelly Thomas are the 2009-2010 recipients of the scholarship.

New Oral MS Treatment on the Horizon

Researchers are currently testing two new drugs that may become the first oral MS treatments on the market. Last week, several news outlets reported on the published studies in New England Journal of Medicine. including MSNBC who shared the reactions this exciting news by individuals in North Carolina's MS community. University of North Carolina's leading MS neurologist and researcher, Dr. Silvia Markovic Plese warned “There is a price tag attached to the new medications."

Also quoted in the article was Chapel Hill resident, Ivana Vuletic. Like many people diagnosed with MS, she is excited to hear the news, “I would be greatly relieved if I didn’t have to prick myself or be pricked with needles." She, like others, would have to weigh the risks and benefits of the treatment with their physicians.

On January 20, 2010, The New England Journal of Medicine published a full report on Cladribine and Fingolimod. According to the studies, both drugs have been shown to reduce relapse symptoms by up to 50%.