...And in Minnesota

The Alpha1, primary immune deficiency, and bleeding disorders communities participating in the Minnesota Legislative Advocacy Day in support of Minnesota Standards of Care. Senator Kathy Sheran (pink blazer) and Representative Kim Norton are standing in the back row in the 8th and 9th positions from the from left.

As part of nationwide efforts to build support for standards of care legislation, a coalition of patient advocates attended a legislative day on April 23, 2008 at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. Minnesotans who rely on plasma protein therapies and their families attended in order to educate lawmakers about rare and chronic diseases such as primary immunodeficiency, Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and the therapies that treat them.

Participants met with their legislators, sharing their personal stories of living with a rare and chronic condition, educating legislators about the unique nature of plasma protein therapies and the need for legislation that ensures access to their specific therapy in addition to the ancillary services as prescribed by their physician. The Minnesota sponsors of Standards of Care legislation, Senator Kathy Sheran and Representative Kim Norton attended lunch with the participants and encouraged the group to work in their communities to build broader awareness and support for the legislation which will be re-introduced in January 2009.

Did You Know? Both John McCain and Barack Obama, the Republican and Democratic candidates for the Presidency of the United States, are United States Senators. The last incumbent United States Senator elected President was John F. Kennedy in 1960. Prior to 1960, Senator Warren G. Harding became President in 1920. (Photo: January 20, 1961 – President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration)

advocacy@cslbehring.com.

CSL Behring Public Affairs
CSL Behring is committed to educating decisionmakers and impacting public policies that affect patient access to care. The company has an active public affairs group in the United States including Dennis Jackman, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs; Patrick Collins, Director, Public Affairs; and Kim Isenberg, Manager, State Government Affairs. All three have extensive public policy backgrounds and work closely with affected stakeholders and political thought leaders to affect change. Please contact them with any questions you may have regarding public policy issues.

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