2019 Advocacy Priorities:

Seizure Smart Schools Training Initiative (HF 1422)

For students with epilepsy, it’s important that school staff are well-equipped with the tools and knowledge to provide a safe and enriching environment. There are three components to the SSS legislation introduced this session:

1. School personnel complete seizure recognition and first-aid response training,
2. Students have a Seizure Action Plan in place and available to school personnel responsible for the student, and 
3. Prescribed medication, including rescue medication, is administered to students with epilepsy by a trained nurse or staff member. 

EFMN supports legislation allowing children living with epilepsy to remain safe in the event of a seizure and minimizes disruption to the school day and learning environment.

Chloe Barnes Rare Disease Advisory Council (SF 973, HF 684)

Helping the rare disease community starts with ensuring that patients and families have a voice in government. EFMN supports legislation to establish a rare disease advisory council to advise state agencies on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education related to rare disease.

Mitchell's Law (SF 746, HF 932))

Following a severe accident in 2015, Mitchell and his family came up with the idea of adding emergency contacts to an individual’s license or state identification card. This legislation creates an optional program that allows individuals to add an electronic record of emergency contacts to their license/state identification card. Records would be available to emergency responders, peace officers, and authorized emergency department staff. 

Patient Access to Prescription Drugs (SF 1006, HF 1257)

Epilepsy medications are not interchangeable, and treatment of epilepsy is highly individualized. Medication changes, limitations, or denials can be extremely dangerous. EFMN is a strong supporter of legislation that prohibits insurers from making mid-year changes to the prescription drug coverage included in healthcare plans. This legislation prohibits insurers from forcing a patient who is currently receiving a drug therapy from changing drugs until the end of the patient’s contract year and creates a community solution for providing real-time notification for drug coverage decisions.

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Additional Advocacy Efforts

Health Care Access Fund

Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota joins other patient advocacy groups in supporting continued funding for the Health Care Access Fund. The program is vital to Minnesota’s health care safety-net and supports MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance, quality improvement initiatives, and public health prevention strategies.

HCAF Sign-on Letter

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Advocacy News

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