b'Hot TopicsAAddvvooccaatteessUUnniitteeoonnCCaappiittoollHHiillll2020 National MS SocietyPublic Policy ConferenceBy Sarah Tedesco andsupporters,cametogethertolearnthebeststrategiesinspeakingwithlegislators.AuniquefocusthisyearwasputontheMillennialandGenZcommunityandhowMSleaderscancreatespaceforyoungpeoplelivingwiththisdisease.TheannualPublicPolicyConference, Onthefinaldayoftheconference,MSorganizedbytheNationalMSSociety,gives activistsoodedthegroundsofCapitolHillinthoselivingwithMSandtheirsupportersthe orangetiesandpashminastoletrepresentativesopportunitytocometogether,network,and knowtheywerethereandtheywerereadytoinspireoneanothertonotonlymakea makeastatement.Statedelegationssplitupdierenceonanationalgovernmentallevel formeetingswithcongressionalstaaswellbutineachoftheireverydaylives.MSFocus assenatorsandrepresentativesoftheHouse.attendedtheeventasamemberoftheMS PassionradiatedfrombothsidesoftheCoalition.Theconferencebeganwithaday- conversation.ItwasclearthatMSactivistsand-a-halfofeducationaroundcurrent,past, werenotjustbeinglistenedto,buthavinganandupcominglegislationsurroundingall eectonthosethatneededtohearthem.issuesaectingthoselivingwithMS. DianeKramer,arst-timePPCattendee,wasThisyear,theconferenceandadvocacy diagnosedwithrelapsing-remittingmultipleinitiativesfocusedaroundaskingcongressional sclerosisat27yearsold.SheparticipatesasaleadershiponCapitolHilltoendsurprisebilling, districtactivistinPennsylvaniaandtakespartfundMSresearchpriorities,passlegislation instateactiondays,aswellaslocalspeakingtolowerhighdrugpricesandout-of-pocket engagements.AsanMSpatientandnurse,costsdirectlyaectingthoselivingwithMS, shebringsauniqueperspectiveaboutwhatandsponsorupcomingdisastermanagement works,andwhatdoesnotwork,inhealthcare.andreliefbillshelpingthoseexperiencing Dianehasfelttheconsequencesofsurprisedisabilities billingandchanginghermedicationregimenBeforeCapitolHillday,theconference becauseofhighdrugprices.Shesaid,Iamcenterexplodedinorangewiththeexcitement oneofthe40percentwhohashadtomakeofmorethan300MSactivistsghtingfor theincrediblytoughdecisiontochoosenotchangewithinthegovernment.Advocatesliving tofillprescriptionsortakemedicationsaswithMS,aswellasadvocacyorganizations orderedtomakethesupplylastlonger.msfocusmagazine.org 22'