As printed in the Committee Report:

"The Committee commends the work of the Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoEs) in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The six PADRECCs and two MSCoEs serve Veterans across the entire Veterans Health Administration via a nationally coordinated system. These centers are the model of innovation in the delivery of highly specialized healthcare and research for chronic disease in the veteran population. The Committee commends the PADRECCs and MSCoEs for conducting clinical and basic science research, administering national outreach and education programs, and providing state-of-the-art clinical care vital not only to veterans, but to the entire Nation. The Committee encourages continued support and funding for the Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence."

The PADRECCs have been in existence for five years and are funded at the discretion of the Veterans Administration. They are not mandated by Congress in the VA budget or otherwise by statute. However, there are indications that the PADRECCs may be in danger of losing their funding and will have to close their doors. PAN is working with our Congressional champions to make sure that the centers continue to provide clinical care and outreach to our veterans while conducting research that will benefit all Americans with Parkinson’s disease.

PAN is also working to protect the centers by supporting enactment of S. 1537, introduced by Sen. Akaka, which would help protect the Parkinson’s VA centers by formally establishing the centers, for the first time, through Congressional action.

For more information on the centers, click here