VETERANS ADVOCACY

The Advocacy An alarming number of If you don’t like numbers, skip the people diagnosed with next few paragraphs. Otherwise, read on for the justifications for is Parkinson’s disease—10 our ask. to 12%—are veterans. The According to a study Just Department of Defense commissioned by the Michael J. Neurotoxin Exposure Fox Foundation, and financially Treatment Parkinson’s supported by APDA: Beginning Research Program (PRP) • Approximately 1 million people in the is devoted to research to U.S. have Parkinson's, which costs the nation $52 billion each year. This discover why a significantly includes a direct medical cost of $25.4 By higher percentage of billion, with additional indirect and Wendy Ann Miller veterans are diagnosed non-medical costs of $26.5 billion. with Parkinson’s disease. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million people in the United States will These discoveries could be impacted by Parkinson’s disease lead to a cure. by 2037, at an estimated economic The PRP budget has been flatlined at burden of $79 billion. $16 million since FY 2012. In an effort to • $23 billion of the direct cost to the increase that budget, people gathered federal government is shouldered by in March 2021 to make their voices Medicare, with an additional $2 billion heard. The American Parkinson Disease attributable to SSI/SSDI. Association, Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s Foundation teamed up • Medicare insures 90% of people with for the annual Parkinson’s Policy Forum. Parkinson's. In 2017, only 7% of direct It was an opportunity (albeit virtually) medical care costs were attributable to for advocates to ask state legislators private insurance. The excess medical to support increasing the PRP budget cost of PD for patients on Medicare is by $9 million to $25 million. Advocates $24,811 every year. represented all five states covered by the • APDA Northwest covers, WA, OR, ID, APDA Northwest Chapter. MT & AK with a total population of State’s team consisted 15,084,633 people; it is estimated that of five passionate advocates: Jean 48,620 have Parkinson’s. The direct Allenbach, Diane Hutchins, Lise Husted, and indirect costs to care for people Glenn Kasman, and Wendy Miller. We met with Parkinson’s in this area is $2.451 with the aides to Senators billion. and , and Representatives , , Marilyn • The federal government spends $25 Strickland, and Suzan DelBene—all of billion every year to care for people whom were knowledgeable, warm, and with Parkinson’s disease, and only receptive. $234 million researching the disease. Veterans dedicated their lives to protecting and serving us, it’s time for the government to invest more to find a cure for Parkinson’s! David Kovalenko via Unsplash David Kovalenko

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COST AND PREVALENCE PRP FUNDING HISTORY IN THE $30 NORTHWEST

$25

Funding Trend $20 1997-2021 48,620

$15 Northwest population is Yearly Funding in Millions 15,084,633 people; $10 48,620 have Parkinson's

$5 APPROPRIATED DOLLARS IN MILLIONS DOLLARS APPROPRIATED The direct and indirect 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 costs to care for FISCAL YEAR people with Parkinson's in the Northwest is

Next Steps: Building a The first step is to recruit the Compelling Case for Funding story tellers. We are looking for: $2.451 Our advocacy group was so energized • Veterans who are willing to share and encouraged after the Policy their Parkinson’s story. Forum we were eager to do more. We BILLION • Female veterans with PD. added two veterans living with PD to our group, Bill Rasmussen and Bob • Veterans diagnosed with PD who Dixon, and began emailing, zooming, did not serve in Vietnam or were not and brainstorming. We decided that exposed to Agent Orange but may PD PREVALENCE we might be able to make a more have experienced traumatic brain IN THE compelling case for funding the PRP injuries, sleep disruptions, and/or NORTHWEST by making a video of veterans with PD cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, who would share their personal stories. all of which are suspected triggers The video could be sent to members for PD in military personnel. of Congress as further encouragement 3.22 to support increased funding for the PRP as well as shared via email, on PER 1,000 PEOPLE social media, and other avenues to help increase awareness. The federal government spends $25 billion every year to care for people with Parkinson's We would be happy to attend any virtual PD support disease, and only $234 million group meetings to discuss this project. researching the disease. If interested in recording a roughly 3-minute story of your journey with PD as a vet, please reach out to Jean Allenbach at [email protected] or 206-550-0444. It's time for the government to invest If you are a veteran, APDA has a free handbook more to find a Helping Those Who Serve: Parkinson’s Disease cure for Parkinson's. Information For The Veterans Community that can be found on our website or we can mail it to you.

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