Dear MAAP members and supporters,

I am writing on behalf of the Health Committee to enlist your support
for HB 2236 / SB 1214, An Act to Improve Asthma Management, and ask
that you take action NOW. Many of you attended the asthma briefing
back in February at the State House. We had such a fantastic turnout
and response, and we don't want to lose the momentum and opportunity.

This legislation seeks to improve access to patient education and
interventions that minimize asthma triggers in the home. These are 2
of the 4 key components of the NIH guidelines for the management of
asthma. Unfortunately, the health care system is not currently
designed to support the kind of prevention services that are needed to
reduce the burden of asthma. The bill requires health insurers to
provide coverage for patient education and home-based environmental
interventions so that people (children, adults and families) can
manage their asthma, properly use prescribed medications and devices,
and address asthma triggers in their home. A fact sheet is attached.

HB 2236 and SB 1214 are identical bills, but were filed separately in
the House by Rep Sanchez and in the Senate by Senator Buoniconti.
They were reported favorably from the Committee on Public Health and
are now being reviewed by the Committee on Health Care Financing
(HCF). The committee has until April 30 to act on this bill. We need
to put pressure on the HCF committee to report the bill favorably by
the deadline. Now is the time to contact your legislators to express
your concern and ask them for their support.


*****Here's how you can take action:

1) Send a letter to the chairs of the Health Care Financing Committee
on behalf of your organization.
(template letter and fact sheet attached to email)

This is very important. They need to hear from as many different
organizations as possible. Feel free to modify the attached letter;
it does not have to be this detailed. You can send or fax your letter
to both chairs of the committee at the following addresses:

Senator Richard Moore
Chair, Committee on Health Care Financing
State House, Room 111
Boston, MA 02133
Fax: 617-722-1944

Representative Patricia Walrath
Chair, Committee on Health Care Financing
State House, Room 236
Boston, MA 02133
Fax: 617-722-2346


2) Contact your own legislators to get their support
(phone script attached and links below)

We need to build broad legislative support. This bill is one of
thousands the legislature is considering. By calling or writing your
own legislators, you are putting this bill on their radar and forcing
them to look into the issue. It makes a big difference when they
actually hear from constituents.

A phone call would be ideal. Attached is a phone script for you to
follow. Typically you end up talking with staff and the conversation
is brief. If you don't know who your legislators are, you can find
out at www.wheredoivotema.com <http://www.wheredoivotema.com/> . Enter
your address and then look for Representative and Senator in General
Court.


3) You can also send an email in less than 5 minutes by visiting:
http://capwiz.com/childadvocacy/issues/alert/?alertid=10596766. This
link will take you to Children's legislative action center where
you'll find a pre-formatted email. You can change the text and add
your name and address, and it will automatically go to your legislators.


4) Pass this email on to your networks. We need as many people as
possible to show their support.

Thank you for your time and support. Please let me know if you have
any questions or need additional information.



Thanks and have a great weekend,

Lisa Mannix
Coordinator, Child Health Policy and Education
Children's Hospital Boston
(p) 617-919-3062
Mailing address:
300 Longwood Ave., BK 120
Boston, MA 02115


--
Vinay N Kampalath
New Sector Resident at Boston Urban Asthma Coalition
Coordinator, Massachusetts Asthma Advocacy Partnership
622 Washington Street, Floor 2
Dorchester, MA 02124-3548
T: 617-451-0049 x508
F: 617-282-3950