New Legistation - PREMIE Act

I just emailed my senator. Just so everybody knows it was really quick and easy.

I just e-mailed my senator also, but couldn't figure out how to e-mail my representative. Guess she'll just get snail mail!

It was really painless & easy.

Thanks for sharing this information with us so that our voices can be heard nationwide.

monkey hugs to all PoP's
Sharlene

Wonderful JOB! JLCMomma...your updates are GREAT...and your spirit of advocacy is AWESOME too.

This just in from TX: thought I would SHARE-

All the hard work put forth by Texas volunteers and staff during the
79th
Texas legislative session has definitely paid off; mothers and babies
will benefit from the successful advocacy efforts of the March of
Dimes!





On June 18, 2005, Governor Perry signed two key pieces of March of
Dimes-supported legislation into law:





House Bill 790

House Bill 790 requires the Texas Department of State Health Services to expand newborn screening (through the most cost-effective
method possible - public or private lab) to include as many of the 29
disorders in the core uniform panel recommended by the American College
of Medical Genetics and the March of Dimes as possible. Texas
currently
screens for 8 disorders. Enough funding has been appropriated to
include up to 19 additional disorders, for a total of 27. Expanded
screening will be phased-in, beginning in November 2006.





Senate Bill 1 (appropriations bill)

Senate Bill 1 contains $5.4 million for the biennium needed to fund House Bill 790 for expanded newborn screening.

Senate Bill 1 contains funding to restore dental and vision benefits for children on the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP).

Senate Bill 1 contains an additional $12.4 million for CHIP caseload growth, adding about 20,000 more children to the enrollment
estimates for the biennium.

Senate Bill 1 also contains a rider that requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to request additional funding from
the Legislature if there is a CHIP shortfall BEFORE imposing a waiting
list, enrollment cap, or cuts to eligibility or benefits.

Senate Bill 1 contains funding to maintain the recently restored (due to advocacy efforts of the March of Dimes in 2004) Medicaid
eligibility threshold for pregnant women at 185% of the Federal Poverty
Level for the 2006/2007 biennium.

Senate Bill 1 contains level-funding for the Texas Birth Defects Registry ($2.8 million for the biennium). However, March of Dimes will
work with the Texas Department of State Health Services to secure
additional funding in the event either of the Registry's two federal
block grants are cut.





We are still looking at the possibility of a ceremonial, public signing
for House Bill 790 by Governor Perry. If such an event is confirmed, I
will let you know.





As you have probably heard in the news, Governor Perry has called a
special session to deal with public school finance reform. The House
and Senate are both expected to pass their versions of the bill this
week and then the remainder of the 30 days will be spent in conference
committee trying to find a compromise between the two versions. March
of Dimes will monitor the activity to ensure that any financing
considerations do not negatively impact non-profits.





Thank you!

Jorey

Jorey Berry, Regional Director of Public Affairs

That is wonderful news. I am sure the new legislation will do so much for your state.

wHAT CAN I DO ? I AM IN UTAH?

I got started by typing up our family's experience. I included in my letter some statistics about preterm birth from the MOD website, for Utah the link is Utah Statistics. One interesting note to add in your letter might be that the state of Utah has the 2nd lowest percentage of women receiving adequate prenatal care in the country, ranked 49th.

So basically my letter had an introduction, some statistics, my personal story, and then at the end I stressed how important research is and asked them to co-sponsor and support The PREEMIE Act, which is S. 707 in the Senate and H.R. 2861 in the House of Representatives.

In the Senate I suggest emailing the Senators from Utah

Bob Bennett

Orrin Hatch

You can also email the others on the committee that I have previously posted.

In the House you can email your Representative which you can find by entering your zip code. House of Representatives

I have also gotten some of my friends and family, especially from other areas and states to contact their legislators to try to reach as many as possible. My representative added his name to be a co-sponsor just days after I contacted him, so you can make a difference.

Hi everyone! I am a nursing student at Northwestern State University in Shreveport, LA and am currently taking a community health class. Our instructor has requested that each student write a "political letter" to our senator or representative. In December of this year I plan to begin working for Women's Health services at a local hospital, so I began by searching for a bill in that area. I found H.R. 2861 and knew instantly it was the one. (I have been precepting in postpartum and the labor unit for over 6 months now and have seen many babies born early.) While doing research on my topic, I found your postings. I think it is wonderful that y'all are taking action. I will soon write my letter and send it. I hope that we can impact the final decision! God bless!

Katie,

Thanks for taking this on!!! It means alot to us PoP's!

Hugs!
donna

Hi everyone, please help the March of Dimes make the voice of premature infants and their families heard in the halls of Congress. In conjunction with Prematurity Awareness Month, the March of Dimes is implementing a national grassroots campaign to increase the number of cosponsors for the PREEMIE Act (S. 707/H.R. 2861). This legislation would expand research into prematurity; increase public and health professional education; and provide federal support for prematurity related health services. We need you to contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to cosponsor the PREEMIE Act. By sharing your personal story with members of congress, you can make a difference.

Please visit the March of Dimes advocacy website for further guidance and a sample letter.

The March of Dimes appreciates your efforts in support of this very important bill! Thank you

Emil Wigode

Deputy Director, Federal Affairs

March of Dimes Office of Government Affairs