Even House Republicans now see the need for legislation to accept our tax money and provide health coverage for all Kansans. This will also create jobs. They can do it this session. We must INSIST that they do! Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence said, “I just think that we’re well past the time that we should be looking at how we develop a Kansas solution.” Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita (HB 2045) has been working tirelessly for this since last year. Now is the time! They have the power, now they just need the will. We can make sure they Expand Medicaid!

My oldest child, Nicholas Rossini, age 22, agreed to go to treatment in July 2014, after we had a family intervention. We spent two weeks of fighting with insurance company to keep him in treatment, but they ultimately denied coverage for further treatment. Nicholas would have stayed a year if he was not forced to leave based upon the insurance denial. He was so tired of living that way! Immediately preceding his untimely death, he got a job, got engaged and started a family. He was so happy! All seemed well until he got laid off in November. He became depressed, relapsed and died, January 4, 2015 from a heroin overdose. His child is due to be born July 5, 2015. My grandchild will never know his father. In addition to Nicholas, I have two other children. My son Anthony, 20, is a student at The University of Maine and my daughter Jessica is a sixth grader. Our family has been torn apart and we are all completely heartbroken. Every day in this country 119 people die from drug overdose, and another 6,748 are treated in emergency rooms. That averages out to an overdose related hospitalization every 13 seconds and an overdose death every 13 minutes. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, outstripping traffic fatalities or gun homicides. And every year it gets worse. In addition to the terrible human toll, substance abuse costs the U.S. economy over $600 billion annually. Effective treatment can dramatically reduce these costs. According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths. My son Nicholas Rossini agreed to receive treatment for his addiction and after only a few short weeks in treatment his insurance company denied coverage for further treatment! Nicholas paid the ultimate price with his life base on this insurance denial. The Affordable Care Act must be amended to provide for a minimum of Ninety (90) days inpatient drug or alcohol treatment up to a maximum of One Hundred Eighty (180) days per year at a facility certified to provide such care by the Secretary of Health of the state in which it is located. Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox is between 40 and 90 percent, and often ends with deadly consequences. I created this Petition in order to request the assistance of The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, Governor Nathan Deal, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people of our great nation who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history. It is my hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates so that no other mother or family has to endure the heartache and grief that I experience daily since my son died. For these reasons, I respectfully request that you sponsor and enact the Proposed Amendments to the Affordable Care Act.

Addiction can happen to anyone. We need to speak up. No more silence. Its time for New Hampshire to step up and make a difference.

Outrageous taxes are causing medical cannabis patients to be unable to afford their medicine of choice. Past and current proposed legislation have called for additional taxes which further separate patients from their necessary medicine. This trend remains detrimental to the health and well-being of medical cannabis patients. Medicine should never be taxed.

WE THE PEOPLE need to stand and fight together to stop the number of people dying from heroin overdoses. Heroin is killing people in staggering numbers in Massachusetts. More often than not, it is killing our younger generation, daily. We are losing the youth of our nation. I have been personally affected by this epidemic, as I lost my best friend, Jason Erickson, and many other close friends throughout 2014. I have watched my friends; family members and others within the community lose young kids and adults to this epidemic. We lost count of the funerals that took place in our town of Billerica, MA in 2014, and there have been hundreds more throughout the Commonwealth in the last year. This is on average 3-4 deaths per day within the Commonwealth. One is too many! As a result, I have made it a personal mission to act and make a difference. I submitted the following to the Governor's office, AGO, Senate and House in January 2015: Proposed Bill: Amendment to Senate Bill 2341, otherwise known as MGL Ch. 258 of the ACTS of 2014; an amendment in order to move up the effective date under Section 45 of the Senate Bill No. 2341, from October 1, 2015 to be effective immediately. This Bill relates to Sections 9 and 19 to 27, inclusive; so that no one can be refused treatment and all people who are willing to work on their sobriety can get the help they desperately need. UPDATE: The author of the above amendment and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, there is no change in the effective date of October 1, 2015 being moved up at this time. (7/29/15) Proposed Bill: Amendment to Senate Bill 2341 otherwise known as MGL Ch. 258 of the ACTS of 2014; An amendment to Senate Bill No.: 2341, Sections 9, 21, 23, 25 and 27, inclusive, is hereby amended by striking out, the words “for up to a total of 14 days” in a detox treatment facility and inserting in place thereof the following words: - “a total of 30 days,” so that we can start to effectively treat this disease and implement better relapse prevention practices. UPDATE: The author of the above amendment and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, this amendment has progressed to the Senate Ways and Means Committee under Senate Bill 1502 and is pending their review for financing. This bill was reported favorably with a 22-0 vote in both the House and Senate. (06/12/16) Proposed Bill: An Amendment to MGL Ch.123, Sec. 35; An amendment to insert Section 35A which provides for a mandatory 30 day involuntary commitment to a detox treatment facility, for any person whose life is saved from an opiate overdose with the use of Narcan when administered by emergency first responders or Trauma Response (ER) hospital personnel. “The OD30 Law.” UPDATE: The coauthor of the above amendment (OD30 Law) and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, a lesser version (3 hour hold) of this amendment has been assigned to House Bill 1824, Sponsored by Congressman Tim Whelan and is pending Joint Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee at 25% progression. We (Dina and I) created this Petition in order to request the assistance of the Governor, the AGO and Congress to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people within the Commonwealth who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history. It is our hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates. Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox (less than 30 days) is between 40 and 90 percent within the first 30 days after entering into a detox program, often with deadly consequences. For these reasons, we respectfully request that you enactment of the Proposed Amendments submitted to your offices in January 2015. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heroiniskillingmytown

This epidemic can no longer be ignored. I have seen what Heroin can do to our children personally. My son has been struggling with addiction for 14 years. There are several drugs that have been developed to help this crisis, however the government will not fund enough money for more clinical trials. These are very promising drugs that can save our children and give them back there chance at life. We cannot ignore the huge pink elephant in the room any longer. WE NEED FUNDING NOW!

As a health care provider, I have witnessed the abuses of prescription drugs. I believe marijuana is a safer alternative to most prescription drugs. I would love to see decriminalization of this drug, and see it help contribute to PA's economy.

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.