MAY 2013

Help Us Teach Congress About Stroke

Want to make a difference in Washington, D.C.? Take a minute to invite your members of Congress to learn more about stroke in May. National Stroke Association is hosting an educational event for members of Congress and their staff. The briefing will discuss post-stroke issues such as rehabilitation, medical research funding and what Congress can do to support stroke survivors and the stroke community. Your representatives in Congress need to hear from you—their constituents—about why it’s important for them to attend this event and learn more about stroke. This is an easy way to make a powerful impact on stroke-related policy issues today and for years to come.

Take Action for Stroke in May

Join National Stroke Association in an effort to raise stroke awareness during National Stroke Awareness Month. Only you can tell the story of how stroke has impacted your life. Your elected officials need to hear that story so they’re better informed about stroke and can make better decisions on stroke-related policy issues. Take the following actions today and help raise stroke awareness in the halls of Congress. You can also watch this video that explains how to take these actions. Take action today and ask your members of Congress to:

• Co-sponsor H Res 123, which would designate May as National Stroke Awareness Month. This resolution has been introduced by Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who is a stroke survivor. She’s also one of our Faces of Stroke℠, demonstrating her commitment to telling her story as a way to increase understanding and awareness.
• Submit a statement for the Congressional Record about stroke or National Stroke Awareness Month. The Congressional Record serves as a venue for legislators to demonstrate their position on an issue. We want them to be talking about ways to improve the partnership between government and the private sector on addressing stroke-related health concerns.
• Support the recently announced BRAIN initiative. The proposed Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative would invest $110 million in an effort to map the human brain. The results of this bold initiative have the potential to transform stroke diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

State Legislature Watch

State legislatures across the country have been hard at work debating, amending, passing and defeating legislation in 2013. Some state legislatures have finished their business for the year, and some are just getting started. Here’s where stroke-related legislation stands in 2013.

Several state legislatures have already completed their legislative business for the year. Those states include Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Stroke Advocacy Network took action on 34 bills in these states. Of these, 14 of them became law, 4 of them are awaiting the governor’s action and 16 of them were defeated. New stroke-related laws created by these state legislatures would:

• Expand the use of or reimbursement for telemedicine services in Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana and New Mexico;
• Designate hospitals in Wyoming that have staff specially trained to treat stroke as comprehensive or primary stroke centers; and
• Create a group to study the development of a stroke system of care in Hawaii and Idaho.

All other state legislatures are still working, including the Louisiana State Legislature, which just convened last month. That means you still have time to tell your state legislators that they should be paying attention to the stroke-related legislation pending in your state. Find out about stroke-related policies your state legislators should be talking about and how you can make sure they’re doing just that. Just choose your state below.

Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Illinois | Iowa | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin

Also, look for email notices that a bill in your state has moved to the governor’s office. Why is this important? To become law, a bill must pass both chambers—the House and the Senate—in identical form. The one exception is the Nebraska Legislature because it’s unicameral, meaning there’s only one chamber. Once a bill passes this hurdle, it moves on to the governor for action. The governor has the right to sign or veto the bill. If he or she signs the bill, it becomes law. However, if he or she vetoes the bill, it goes back to the legislature for further action. As an advocate, you have an opportunity to tell the governor of your state what you want him or her to do—sign or veto a particular bill. It’s another chance to put your advocacy skills to work and make your voice heard on stroke-related issues. If the Stroke Advocacy Network provides you with an opportunity to communicate a message to your governor, please take that action. It’s important that the stroke community is heard during every phase of the legislative process.

Make your voice heard for the stroke community in May by taking action on stroke-related legislation in your state!

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Matching Funds Provide Fundraising Boost

Ramon’s first indication that he might be having a stroke was a sudden stinging sensation—like his hand was full of pins and needles. The emergency medical response team called ahead to the hospital where they brought Ramon. When Ramon came through the door, a stroke team was ready. Within moments, Ramon was moved down the hall to the CT scanner. Another team was standing by, ready to administer tPA, a life-saving, clot-busting drug.

Ramon said, “Right away, I was administered a medication that everyone was talking about being good to get as early as you can.” Up to 80 percent of strokes are treatable with tPA, yet only 5 percent of eligible patients receive it. Why? The main reason is that most people either don’t recognize or don’t respond to the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. During this month, National Stroke Association focuses its energy on getting the FAST message into communities to make sure people not only recognize a stroke, but also seek medical attention quickly.

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