A Closer Look

The Power of Advocacy

Every family has a connection to disease -- oftentimes, more than one.  Families and individuals also are concerned about how and where federal dollars are spent.  “The Power of Advocacy” is a lively, educational discussion in which advocacy experts share their inside tips and tricks for how to make your voice heard in the halls of Congress.  More »

Spread the word on social media -- Parkinson's Call-in Day is February 27!

You don’t have to have Parkinson's to call your Member of Congress about research funding.  Anyone can do it!  Friends, family, neighbors, work colleagues -- the more, the better.  On Wednesday, February 27, we want the phones to ring in Congress all day long, so that every Senator and Representative knows that funding for Parkinson's research is important. More »

Judge Approves Medicare Improvement Standard Settlement

Upon hearing from advocates that Medicare denied therapy services because their condition had not “improved,” the Parkinson’s Action Network joined the Center for Medicare Advocacy in filing a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to remove Medicare’s Improvement Standard measurement for Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases. More »

Deadline Approaching: Show Support for Veterans with Parkinson's

Submit Comments on Draft Rule by Friday, February 8

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a proposed rule to make it easier for veterans to receive health care and compensation for certain illnesses, including parkinsonism, dementia, and depression, which have been linked to traumatic brain injury (TBI). More »

Supreme Court Won't Hear Stem Cell Case: Victory for Patients and Science

I am extremely happy to tell you that just this morning the Supreme Court denied certiorari in Sherley v. Sebelius, letting stand the Court of Appeals ruling against opponents of stem cell research.  This victory for research and patients brings an end to this long litigation.  Scientists can now proceed with their work, knowing that the Obama Administration's policy on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research will remain in place and that the National Institutes of Health will continue funding. More »

Fiscal Cliff Deal Fails to Protect Biomedical Research

While the news media has reported that an agreement to avoid the “fiscal cliff” has been reached, the bill deals with only some of the issues that are important to the Parkinson’s community. We are extremely pleased that it includes a provision to extend the Medicare therapy caps exception process, protecting access to medically necessary physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy services. And, it includes a provision to avoid a cut to physician payments. More »

COLONEL KARL E. FRIEDL (RET.) JOINS PARKINSON'S ACTION NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON, D.C.; JANUARY 3, 2013 – Colonel Karl E. Friedl (Ret.), former Director of the U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), has joined the board of directors of the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN).  As TATRC Director, Friedl oversaw the Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson’s Research (NETPR) program, which examines how best to protect military personnel from toxic substances, head injury, and other possible contributors to Parkinson’s disease. More »

Congressional Inaction and its Impact on PD

As you all know from the news media, Congress is not expected to act on the end-of-year ‘fiscal cliff’ issues until after Christmas, at the earliest.  This makes the PAN staff concerned that an agreement to avoid the draconian impacts of sequestration will not be reached before the arbitrary cuts take effect on January 2, 2013. More »

The 2013 PAN Forum - Exciting Speakers and Information Sessions

The 2013 PAN Forum is just over two months away and, if you haven’t registered yet, we hope you’ll do so soon!  We’ve planned a well-rounded, informative speaker and panel discussion line-up that both new and seasoned advocates will learn from and enjoy. More »

Protect NIH Funding: Deadline to Sign Letter Today!

Has Your Member Signed On Yet?

As budget negotiations in D.C. continue, research advocates need to speak out and urge their Representatives to protect the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from across-the-board budget cuts.  In less than two weeks, $2.5 billion in NIH research funding and 33,000 jobs across the country will disappear.  More »