MEMORY CARE


Michael J. Fox Foundation Furthers New Parkinson’s Initiative


By Patrick Connole


A


new initiative on how to prevent and cure Parkinson’s disease is gaining support in Congress, as


advocates at the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) stress the importance of the legisla- tion, which seeks to elevate the way in which the 1 million Americans with the progres- sive neurological disorder receive care. The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act


(S. 4851/H.R. 8585) would direct the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out the National Parkinson’s Project. Mirroring the steps taken by Alzheimer’s


advocates, the Project would create an ad- visory council comprised of members from every federal agency that supports research, care, and services for Parkinson’s, plus caregivers, patients, and other non-federal experts, according to Ted Thompson, MJFF senior vice president of public policy. He said the council would work to ensure


federal coordination among all stakehold- ers, evaluate federal programs related to Parkinson’s, craft a national plan to prevent and cure Parkinson’s, reduce the financial burden of the disease on patients and the


federal government, and report back to Congress on an annual basis on the progress made on the plan’s goals. “This is the first piece of legislation sole-


ly intended to ending Parkinson’s disease,” Thompson said.


Timing is Right The question of why now for the national plan on Parkinson’s is one that he said came out of necessity, given the prevalence of the disease and the increasing economic burden it presents.


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 ARGENTUM.ORG 39


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