A bill in the U.S. Congress to make it easier for Huntington’s disease patients to obtain disability status and government benefits now has 50 co-sponsors, HDSA Chief Executive Officer Louise Vetter announced on October 29.

H.R. 678, The Huntington’s Disease Parity Act of 2009, would revise the Social Security Administration’s outdated criteria for granting disability status and remove the two-year waiting period to receive Medicare benefits.

The total of 50 co-sponsors is generally the minimum number a bill needs before it can be sent by the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means to its Subcommittee on Health for debate. If the bill passes the subcommittee, it would then come up for consideration before the full committee. The Ways and Means committee sends bills to the floor of the House for a vote.

This level of co-sponsorship also makes the bill attractive enough for a senator or group of senators to introduce a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

The bill, which was originally introduced during the 2008 Congress by San Diego-area representative Bob Filner (D) and supported by principal co-sponsor Brian Bilbray (R), has garnered substantial bipartisan backing.

The legislation currently sits in the so-called hopper, the inbox of the House. Only the Subcommittee on Health can remove it for discussion.

HDSA and its advocates must now focus obtaining yet more co-sponsors in order to increase the chances of favorable votes in the subcommittee and the Ways and Means committee.

HDSA is asking people to contact their congressional representatives to stress the need for H.R. 678 and urge them to become co-sponsors. For this to work, it’s essential that everybody in the HD community spread the word about H.R. 678.

HDSA has established a special fund, “50 for 50,” to celebrate this achievement in advocacy of the bill and raise additional monies for the effort. To donate, please click here.

“Thank you for raising your voice for the Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2009 and supporting our commitment to Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow for everyone affected by HD,” Vetter stated in a message to HDSA advocates.

To see a list of co-sponsors and to contact your own congressional representative, click here.

Further information on the bill and advocacy efforts is available from advocate Oto by clicking here or from Joseph LaMountain by calling (202) 288-5124 or clicking here.

For previous coverage of the bill, visit our Advocacy pages by clicking here.

Click here for the text of H.R. 678.

Click here for background on the need for H.R. 678.

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