Diabetes Blog – Happy-Medium.net

Welcome to Diabetes Awareness Month. And since this is also a big election year (and we generally elect candidates and vote on issues in November), let’s merge those two together for the sake of this post.

Oh yeah, I’m going there. For the sake of myself and my friends with diabetes, I’m going there.

I fully recognize that there is more than one way to get things done, and I’ve seen countless examples over the past eight years that there is more than one way to not get things done. Rather than going down party lines, I thought I would lay out my own framework for a more perfect diabetes union. My own policy statement that outlines issues I stand for during this very important election cycle. Here are my thoughts:
 
 
– Any talk of a rework or repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act must include a guarantee of coverage for every Amercian, regardless of what they’re living with today and in the future. And an undertaking like this must not take place until all sides can agree that this provision stays in place. If you don’t support that, I won’t even think about voting for you, and should you get elected, I might even go to Washington to protest your stance. Loudly.
Note: they don’t want to “repeal and replace”… they want to take away your right to coverage, and deny it forever. If you’re okay with that, and you’re okay with any coverage you might be lucky enough to get costing more anyway (because they never said it would ever cost less), then go ahead and vote for your candidate(s).

– The Competitive Bidding program set up by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must end. As soon as possible. I have friends being harmed by this program today, I will have friends being harmed by this program in the near future, and if it continues, I’m a little over ten years from being harmed by this program myself. People who really know, know this program is wasteful. Make them stop it. Now.

– The cost of drugs and devices necessary to keep us alive is too much. Consider the fact that having to pay extra just for the right to stay alive is asking far too much. Having what is considered to be good coverage that costs me thousands of dollars out of pocket every year is a ridiculous way to say “good coverage”. The cost of staying alive should be significantly reduced. Make it happen. My friends and I will help show you how.

– Patients require a seat at the table. Notice I didn’t say “want”… I said require a seat at the table. When our well-being and overall health are being discussed by Congress, by policy makers, by local and state legislatures, it is unthinkable to exclude patients from weighing in on the very issues that affect us. Trust me: you’re going to hear from us anyway. Don’t let it be while you’re backtracking from an ill-informed decision. Let it be when you’re discussing the very thing that we’re experts at living with. There’s a reason we’re experts at diabetes. We live with it every single day. Help us help you.

– In all you do, remember: People With Diabetes are worthy of your respect, consideration, and empathy. If you don’t yet possess empathy, it’s not too late to get some. Trust me, it will come in handy. All great leaders throughout our history have not only possessed empathy, they have displayed it often in executing the duties of office. All poor leaders in our nation’s history have lacked empathy. It is a necessary component of accepting the responsibility of any public office.

– Finally: if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like a slice of pie on my Diaversary this year. Anything that doesn’t contain marshmallow, meringue, or pudding.
 
 
I’m Stephen Shaul, and I approve this message.

Vote for Diabetes this November. To make your voice heard, PLEASE VOTE. Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition makes it easy to share your concerns to all the candidates right now: CLICK HERE.