It has become apparent to me that these ads are counterproductive. People see these ads and press their doctors to prescribe them, even when they are nor what a medical professional would prescribe.

I lost my son on November 3, 2015, to a heroin overdose. He was 31 years old with 2 children ages 2 and 3 1/2. He detoxed two weeks prior to his death and was on a waiting list for a bed but overdosed prior to getting one.

The Honorable Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. 22 S. Third Street 6A Harrisburg, Pa. 17101 November 12, 2015 Dear Senator Casey: My name is Monica L. Wallace and I am a rising Junior at Carlow University's School of Social Work studying to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a concentration of Crisis and Trauma. I am writing you as a constituent to tell you my story and also express my hope that you will push to get Bill S. 1503, the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2015, from the introduction phase to being passed through both Houses and finally becoming a law. There is so much that medical professionals and the general public does not know about Lyme Disease. It mostly affects our most precious population--our children--and if not treated, can have life-long affects and be fatal. I am a voice of the people affected with this disease and I am pleading with you to help our children. July 2013 is when I become aware of Lyme Disease. My son Nathaniel at the age of three was bitten by a blacklegged tick on his neck. For three months he endured flu like symptoms and pain. Every single time that I took him to get examined by a doctor I was told that he was fine or it was just a bug. One time I took him to his primary care physician because he woke up with a red flaky rash on his forehead near his hairline. A rash is one of the first signs of Lyme Disease. The doctor accused me of placing my child in danger and permitting or letting him have access to chemicals. In September 2013 my son expressed that his knee was hurting and appeared to walk with a limp. Shortly thereafter his knee swelled up and he was unable to move his leg. I took him to the hospital to be examined. I explained to the physician and the medical staff about his condition and the countless trips to his PCP and the hospital and every time I was he was seen I told nothing was wrong with him. Now here we are months later and with the same symptoms and now he has loss mobility. I told the ER doctor that there is definitely something wrong with my son and you have to fix him! They performed a battery of tests and drew some fluid from his knee. I was told by the physician that fluid in his knee was a yellow-green color instead of the clear indicating an infection. That day he was diagnosed with Lyme disease and it was stated to me that it is in his blood and had spread throughout his body. He was immediately admitted. His was treated but not cured. He still has symptoms to this day. My son was 1 of the 5,758 statewide reported cases of Lyme Disease in 2013 in. For the past five years, Pennsylvania has reported the most Lyme disease cases nationwide according to the CDC. Here are some scary facts about Lyme Diesase: • Blacklegged ticks can transmit a parasite which can cause anemia. • Has the potential to be fatal. • Can causes fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. • The disease also can lead to psychological changes. Lyme Disease can be cured if detected early so there is hope to stop it before it becomes an epidemic. It is sad that this disease attacks one of our most precious populations: our children between the ages of 3-7. I am pleading with you to help our children and push to get Bill S. 1503 1503 the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2015 passed. Sincerely, Monica L. Wallace

My son has fallen into the progression of a drug addiction. He is now cutting school and running away. His high school sent him for a drug test at Cape Regional Hospital and he tested positive for cocaine. The doctor told me in front of my son that it could very well be a false positve. He said he's fine to go back to school. I asked him to be held because he is hurting himself. They sent him home.

We the undersigned would like to bring your attention to the following problem, with recommendations: John Brooks Recovery Center (JBRC) is a nonprofit agency providing Substance Abuse services to the residents of NJ since 1969. Clients are able to access various levels of care based upon an individual assessment. Psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring and individualized care are offered to all clients. Medication assisted therapy is also available in all modalities. JBRC is a 119 bed facility located in Atlantic City, providing long term inpatient care. This represents ten percent of the long term treatment beds in New Jersey and the only long term residential facility in South Jersey serving the uninsured general public. The residential treatment programs are for adult men and women whose lives have been significantly impacted by the use of drugs and/or alcohol. The program is 3 to 6 months long depending on the individual’s progress. Originally an agreement was struck to relocate JBRC with Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) picking up the tab—a move that Governor Christie supported; however casinos began to close. Ultimately the CRDA agreed to fund part of the agreement. Under the new agreement JBRC would receive $8.1 million; 4 million for the relocation and renovation of two outpatient sites outside of the Tourist District and 4.1 million for the purchase of its buildings in AC. The construction costs of a new facility to fully replace the 119 beds is approximately $10 million. With the current proposal in place, JBRC would only be able to provide outpatient services (including the methadone clinic). The $8.1 million is really not enough to fund a new facility. Part of the problem is unmet promises by the state to increase the fees for residential treatment from the current $68 per day. If the $68 that is currently being paid is increased it may be possible to obtain a bank loan for the remainder of the funds needed to rebuild with the same capacity. JBRC receives almost all of their funds from the state. The recommendation is to have CEO Alan Oberman from JBRC sit down with state officials and the CRDA to work on a financial solution.

we want our lives back.

I am concerned for the long term health of people who eat meat. I am also against the cruel suffering inflicted on animals by factory farms that produce bacon.

The consequences of repealing the Medicaid expansion would be enormous. More than 400,000 people would lose the coverage they have just gained. Kentucky would join the remaining 19 states with a gap, where some people are too poor to receive help on the exchange or too well-off to qualify for the old Medicaid program.

Except for a few, in the majority of states a mentally ill patient has to be a danger to self or others before he could even be evaluated at a mental hospital for treatment. This means all those patients with mental illness who are extremely delusional, paranoid and otherwise mentally incompetent could not be subjected to treatment if they refuse to voluntarily see a psychiatrist or take medicine. It is extremely difficult for the family to convince the state attorney to have a patient evaluated at a facility involuntarily. As a result of this, many mentally ill patients are left without treatment. These are the patients who usually commit mass murders, because in a delusional paranoid state they are left untreated; just by the strict criteria of being homicidal or suicidal they are often excluded from any involuntary commitment or treatment. I think this legal requirement for involuntary commitment should be relaxed to include all patients suffering from symptomatic mental illness. I am the brother of a mentally ill patient who resides in Illinois. He has been non-compliant with his medications for almost two years now. His illness has effected his family, his children and all. They are watching him suffer, but are unable to do anything because they are unable to convince the state attorney for involuntary commitment and treatment. It is an extremely frustrating and painful situation.

I am 76 years old, with many health issues, the cost of everything is skyrocketing, yet a retired person's pay remains static. What was once just enough, is no longer; the medical costs, prescriptions, and trips to doctors and hospitals are such that you sometimes chose between buying food or medication. Most of us have worked as long as we can. I worked 50 years, retiring at 70+ because I knew that retirement would mean a huge cut in income and a constant increase in medical expenses. Please do not take from those who can least afford to pay.

In managing physicians AR, we speak to a lot of desperate patients who are not clear on what is paid by insurance and what is not. For patients with family or personal history of breast cancer or other breast problems, annual mammograms are not always paid by insurance. When presented with these issues, a diagnostic mammogram is done annually instead of a screening; even though, diagnostic annual mammograms may be covered,they are subject to the patient's deductible and not necessarily paid by insurance. What is more appropriate during this breast cancer awareness month than for us to step up and take action for these at risk patients. A mammogram once per year, regardless if annual screening or if an annual diagnostic, should be considered an annual preventative test with no applicable copay or deductible and covered and paid by insurance at 100%.

RoundUp, the weed-killer brought to you by Monsanto. It’s sprayed on lawns all throughout the country, including on public parks, school playgrounds, and sports fields. What you probably don’t know is that in March, the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization announced that glyphosate – the key ingredient in RoundUp – is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” And recently the California EPA announced that it plans to label glyphosate as a chemical “known to cause cancer.” In the WHO report, scientists cited evidence from studies showing that glyphosate has been linked to tumors in mice and rats and has caused DNA damage to human cells. Another study found that exposure to this dangerous chemical can result in significant liver and kidney damage. In addition to being used on lawns and parks, glyphosate is the number one herbicide used in agriculture. Nearly all U.S. corn, soy, and cotton is treated with glyphosate. People have a right to know about the serious health risks of this weed-killer. The California EPA’s public comment period ends October 20th, and they need to hear from people like you.