THE ACA, though not perfect, is the beginning of health care for all Americans, many of whom had no health care, or protection against devastating medical debt. I speak for Democrats who have worked hard to help with your campaigns and are also dedicated to help the neediest in our country. Republicans will try piecemeal to undermine the ACA, the Medical Device Tax is a wise choice, as is appears to contribute little to the revenue needed to finance the ACA. DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE INFORMATION; READ THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH REPORT: If your state has many Medical Device Industries - look carefully at the actual burden this tax has meant to them, not what facts you are given by lobbyists. TAKE A STAND ON SUPPORTING (OBAMACARE). VOTE NO ON S157

Any one whose family is affected by cancer know that the cost of the cancer drugs are unreasonable, bankrupt the medicare fund, and bankrupt family nest eggs. In many cases these drugs are priced at the highest possibly price and abut are not expensive to develop or to manufacture. The current patent laws are inappropriate and outdated for drug development. This was highlighted in the recent 60 minutes segment on this topic: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-cost-of-cancer-drugs/ The current law is bankrupting Medicare, the insurance companies, and our citizens. It is time for the public to pressure our representatives to change these laws which are no loner in the public interest and only benefit drug companies and their stockholders.

Excessive fluoride exposure is well known to cause a painful bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis, as well as a discoloration of the teeth known as dental fluorosis. Excessive fluoride exposure has also been linked to a range of other chronic ailments including arthritis, bone fragility, bone and bladder cancer; thyroid disease, gastric distress, and cardiovascular disease. While the lowest doses that cause some of these effects are not yet well defined, it is clear that certain subsets of the population are particularly vulnerable to fluoride’s toxicity. Populations with heightened vulnerability to fluoride include infants, individuals with kidney disease, individuals with nutrient deficiencies, and individuals with medical conditions that cause excessive thirst. Additionally, we see the fluoride chemicals added to our water contain Lead, Arsenic and other contaminants harmful to human health. Some of these contaminants, especially lead and the fluoride itself, have been shown to cause disproportionate harm to African Americans according to the CDC and scientists who have served with the EPA whose data conclude African Americans absorption rates of these contaminants are higher than other members of the population. Fluoridation of the Memphis water supply must end because WE ALL deserve Safe Water from our public utility company!

I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease this year and I know it exists. I am an RN and have medical training. It is a growing problem and can be spread by other vectors than deer ticks. I have had the disease most of my life, and didn't even know it until this past year when I became symptomatic and debilitated. I am beginning to respond to treatment. Until the CDC recognizes it as a disease, not enough funding will be put into research to understand it and find a cure.

1 out of 2 of our children in America currently have a chronic illness. 1 out of two males and 1 out of 3 femals are expected to get cancer. When they do, we can see now that in many cases, they are receiving a formua that contains a chemical that can kill their gut bacteria and weaken their immune system. This is unacceptable. We ask you to change your feeding tube liquid over to an organic brand as soon as possible. Please let us know when you do.

I am a Navy veteran who served honorably from 1958-1962. I have had numerous "compensation & pension" examinations where the examining individual did not fully examine me or listen to my complaints. Some did not even look at the "part" in question. I experienced one situation where a nurse practitioner rendered one decision in my presence and then called me a few days later to tell me that after reviewing biopsy reports from five years before, she was changing her opinion. This is just one of many ridiculous incidents. My appeals have been successful when I have sought out review by private physicians.

This year's flu season is off to a dangerous start: Forty-three states have already reported widespread flu-like activity and the total number of childhood fatalities during this year’s flu season has already reached a tragic 21. The flu is spreading, but we're missing one of our most important tools to fight the flu: Paid sick days! Urge your members of Congress to help combat the spread of the flu by supporting paid sick days. Sign on to MomsRising's message and this open letter, which we'll deliver to our Congressional representatives. ____________________________________________ Dear Member of Congress, When nearly 40 million Americans, including 80% of low-wage workers, lack even a single paid sick day, it's a serious problem for the health of our families and for the health of our economy. We’re in the middle of a flu epidemic and paid sick days are one of our best tools to fight the flu, but far too many people can't earn a single one. Paychecks are precious for working families and for our economy. Yet without paid sick days, many parents have to go to work sick or send their children to school sick. In fact, our lack of a national paid sick days policy is fueling the flu epidemic. Now more than ever, we must ensure that all workers, including those serving our food and caring for our children, have paid sick days to protect our families, our businesses, and our economy. I urge you to take the next step by supporting paid sick days at the national level so all families can thrive.

In 2013 Maine lost 176 people to drug overdoses. This is roughly one person every other day. This is due in part to a surge in heroin use, causing overdose deaths from heroin to rise over 400% during 2013. Last year the legislature passed important measures to curb this frightening trend. But it’s not enough. This year the Legislature and the Governor’s office will be considering common sense policies that will curb the meteoric rise in overdose deaths. These policies will enhance access to emergency medical services and Naloxone, a medication that temporarily reverses an overdose. Tell the Governor and the Legislature that we have to do MORE to address this public health emergency. Tell them that a death every other day is not good enough. Tell them to support Good Samaritan provisions and enhancing access to Naloxone!!! These policies will help save lives, reducing the number of avoidable deaths due to drug overdose each year and preserving our youth, our veterans and other populations that tend to be tragically impacted by drug use and overdose. An Act To Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths By Enhancing Access to Naloxone Hydrochloride: Naloxone is what is called an opioid antagonist. It has no other use than to counteract the effects of an overdose. It produces no high, has no street value and no effect on an individual unless they have opioids in their system. What's more, studies have found that its distribution has no impact on rates of substance abuse - it does NOT increase how many people are abusing drugs. LD 1047 would enhance access to Naloxone by decreasing barriers to getting, using and dispensing this overdose remedy. Allowing for access through non-medical settings would make sure that this life-saving medication was in the right place at the right time. An Act Providing a Good Samaritan Defense To Individuals Reporting A Drug Overdose: Good Samaritan provisions have been passed throughout the U.S. to ensure that people feel safe calling for emergency medical assistance in the event of a drug overdose. In many situations people afraid of being reported to law enforcement due to drug use or possession avoid seeking medical help, increasing the risk of a fatal drug overdose. By providing limited protections for those seeking medical assistance this bill would ensure that people are not punished for attempting to save a life, and are not afraid to ask for help. The difference between life and death can be as much as a few minutes. Every minute wasted could be a life lost. Tell the Governor and the Legislature that we do not want to lose any more lives to drugs. Tell them to support An Act To Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths By Enhancing Access to Naloxone Hydrochloride AND An Act Providing a Good Samaritan Defense To Individuals Reporting A Drug Overdose.

The Integrative Dry Needling Institute, LLC is currently marketing a course titled “IDN Foundation Course”, to be held on March 20-22, 2015 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. This three-day course marketed toward physical therapists includes needling demonstrations by a physical therapist who does not hold an acupuncture license. The course will be held at Elliott Physical Therapy in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Per Elliott’s website there are no licensed acupuncturists on staff, only physical therapists. We petition the COA to regulate the safe practice of acupuncture in Massachusetts. Take action now and send a cease and desist to the Integrative Dry Needling Institute, LLC 7051 Navajo Trail Solon, OH 44139 to stop this course.

My name is Isaac Rodriguez and I’m an EMT at St. Francis Medical Center near Los Angeles. My hospital system, the Daughters of Charity, six hospitals with over 100-years of serving the poor and sick in our communities, is up for sale. The potential buyer, Prime Healthcare, has a track record of ignoring community needs, cutting health services, and laying off dedicated caregivers in order to maximize profits. When Prime bought Centinela Hospital in Inglewood eight years ago, the company said they would “maintain all currently-offered services.” It took them less than a year to cut the hospital’s maternity and psychiatric care units. I couldn’t stand to see my community lose access to so many important services. For me, it’s most important that our hospitals keep providing all of our services to our community. Everything I know about Prime tells me that they will do the opposite. I’ve looked into the company and its practices. Prime Healthcare is under investigation for Medicare fraud and their CEO, Prem Reddy, has stated that a patient’s care should should be limited by what they can afford. If putting profit over patients is what they’re about, Prime shouldn’t be anywhere near our safety-net hospitals. Luckily, California state Attorney General Kamala Harris can prevent the sale to Prime, just as she has done with other hospital sales in the past. If she does, there’s another buyer ready to step up, who has committed to protecting community care and the hospital’s mission of charity. Sign the petition asking Attorney General Harris to stop the sale of Daughters of Charity hospitals to Prime Healthcare, and protect access to quality health care for everyone in our communities.

To drive UPG to consider placing a satellite pediatric office in Rockbridge County.

Let's awaken the American public about the consequences of drug use after a period of sobriety, focus on relapse prevention and do something about the opiate trafficking in the US. My beautiful son Colin Grady Finn, 19 years old, died from ten dollars of a lethal dose of heroin. He had just picked up a year chip for being clean and sober and never had any history with that drug. He was in a good place and we and all his counselors thought he was well. On 8/8/14, he slipped. He paid the highest price. He had his whole life in front of him. I believe he had no idea what was could potentially happen. Something needs to be done to educate others.