Picture this: MS State Action Day 2023

I truly have lost count of how many times we have ventured to Lansing and met with our elected state officials, each trip memorable in its own right.

But I never envisioned what May 24 was going to bring for Jennifer and me as we turned left onto East Michigan Avenue in Lansing and looked up to see the Michigan State Capitol dome a mere four blocks ahead of us.

This was going to be an MS State Action Day for the ages.

Check out this photo essay to see what I’m talking about and how you can get involved as an MS activist.

**A Capitol view.** Whether we see it from blocks away or from a State of Michigan legislator’s office window, the Michigan State Capitol Building always takes our breath away.

**Champion of our cause.** Leading the way behind the scenes and to kick off our MS State Action Day is Corbin McGhee, Director, Advocacy and Activist Engagement, for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

**Firing up the activists.** As the Government Relations Advisory Committee Chair for the State of Michigan, Jennifer shares some insights and words of encouragement to the activists at the kickoff event. It was my honor to join her and offer a few tips for being your own best advocate. As Corbin said, Jennifer is the GRAC chair, but when it comes to the Digmanns, you can’t have one without the other.

**Calling MS activists into action.** A special guest at the MS State Action Day is Representative Carrie Rheingans. In the coming weeks, Rep. Rheingans is set to introduce the legislation at the heart of our action day to reform copay accumulator programs.

Copay Accumulator Adjustment Programs are practices that some pharmacy benefit managers and insurers are using to prohibit financial third-party copay assistance from counting towards annual deductibles or maximum out-of-pocket costs.

With the implementation of copay accumulator programs, people with MS are experiencing higher financial burdens as they struggle to meet expenses during their deductible period.

**Copay Accumulator Reform would:**

• Support solutions that help safeguard access to life-changing medications and treatments for those who need them.

• Ensure patients’ deductible periods are not lengthened, causing undue financial burden.

• Guarantee that forms of help such as prescription drug copay assistance be applied to a patient’s annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum amounts.

**Parting shot.** All the MS activists gather for a quick pic with Rep. Rheingans before we meet with our legislators and members of their staffs to encourage them to take these actions:

• **House:** Will you cosponsor Representative Rheingans’ legislation that reforms copay accumulator programs, ensuring that copay assistance can be applied toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket costs?

**• Senate:** Can we count on your support of legislation that reforms copay accumulator programs, ensuring that copay assistance can be applied toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket costs?

**Our first meetings of The Day.** Yes, Corbin said you can’t have one without the other when you’re talking about Jennifer and me. BUT, when it comes to advocacy we sometimes have to divide and conquer when two meetings are scheduled at the same time.

We had a great opportunity at MS State Action Day because as Jennifer joins fellow activist Helen Meyers, NMSS Michigan Board of Trustees Chair, for the meeting with her State Representative Bill G. Schuette, I was joining NMSS Michigan Chapter President Tammy Willis for a meeting with Elizabeth Crenshaw, Director of District and Constituent Services for State Senator Jeremy Moss. He is the senator for an activist who wasn’t able to make it to Lansing for this event.

**Chance meeting with our State Senator Roger Hauck.** Timing was on our side for MS State Action Day. We didn’t have a formal meeting set with Sen. Hauck while we were in Lansing because he originally was going to speak at the event’s kickoff. But an early morning committee meeting ran long and he wasn’t able to make it.

However, his legislative assistant texted us to let us know he had a framed copy of the signed **proclamation that Sen. Hauck introduced** to the full Senate on March 15 to officially declare March 12-18 as MS Awareness Week in Michigan. Of course we went and picked it up. Then, as we rested for a few minutes in the reception area of the Senate building before we walked over to the House office building, in walks Sen. Hauck following his lunch meeting downtown… sporting the orange bowtie we sent him specifically to wear on MS State Action Day!

**Crossing paths at the Capitol.** On our way from the Senate building to the House building, we ran into fellow activists Helen Meyers and Tammy Willis one more time. Because they were with us on March 15 when Sen. Hauck introduced the MS Awareness Week Proclamation, of course we needed to get our picture of them with the framed copy.

**Surprise step out of session.** Our MS State Action Day agenda always had a final meeting scheduled with our State Representative Jerry Neyer’s Legislative Aide/Constituent Services Armani Jackson. Rep. Neyer wasn’t available to meet because, well, the House was in session. Armani was a great listener and asked a lot of great questions about the copay accumulator reform legislation.

He then grabbed his phone and said, “Let me check something.” He typed something, waited a few seconds and then asked if we would be interested in walking from the House building over to the State Capitol and briefly meet with Rep. Neyer. For real?! Rep. Neyer was willing to step out of session for a few minutes just to meet with us and hear what we had to say!

Such a great impromptu meeting to cap off an incredible and already memorable MS State Acton Day 2023.

MS StateAction Day and sharing your stories and experiences with our elected officials demonstrates how such issues are impacting their constituents. We encourage you to take some time to consider joining us as MS activists. Learn more on the NMSS activism website.

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