Fwd: Illinois governor signs laws to help Sarcoidosis research and Colon Cancer

[Guest guest]

Good news for those who live in Illinois. Members with Sarcoidosis

everywhere will benefit from the research :-)

Love,

*******

Illinois governor signs laws to help Sarcoidosis research and Colon Cancer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2005

Governor signs laws to help increase colorectal cancer awareness

and to help fund sarcoidosis research

New laws create Vince Demuzio Memorial Colon Cancer Fund and

Sarcoidosis Research Fund

SPRINGFIELD - In an effort to increase awareness and fund

more research for serious diseases, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today

signed two bills that will allow Illinoisans to contribute to the

fight against disease. The first law provides an avenue for more

money to fund colorectal cancer awareness and honors longtime State

Senator Vince Demuzio. Sen. Demuzio, the longest serving member of

the Illinois State Senate, lost his battle to colon cancer in April of

2004. The second law provides the same avenue to raise money for

Sarcoidosis research. Sarcoidosis is a disease that causes

inflammation, or swelling, of the body's tissues.

" As Governor, part of my job is to help Illinoisans live

healthier lives. That's why we are doing all we can to expand access

to healthcare for working families, raise awareness of how important

it is to be screened for cancer and by funding critical medical

research. By signing these bills today, we may be able to save people

from very serious illnesses, " said Gov. Blagojevich.

Senate Bill 133 creates the Vince Demuzio Memorial Colon

Cancer Fund. Money collected in this fund will be given to the

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to establish and maintain

a public awareness campaign in target areas in Illinois with high

colon cancer mortality rates. The campaign will be developed in

conjunction with recommendations made by the American Cancer Society.

" Vince Demuzio dedicated his life to serving the people of

this state until cancer took him from us last year. I think this is a

fitting way to honor his memory while raising awareness about

colorectal cancer, which affects so many Illinois families, " said the

Governor.

The late Sen. Demuzio, a resident of Carlinville, was

first elected to the General Assembly in 1974 at the age of 33.

Demuzio earned his bachelor's degree in 1981 and his master's in 1996,

both from what is now the University of Illinois at Springfield. From

1986 until 1990, he served as the state chair of the Democratic Party,

the first downstate official to hold the post in decades.

Sen. Deanna Demuzio was appointed to her husband's seat

after his death.

" Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms, which is why a

public awareness campaign is so important, " said Sen. Deanna Demuzio

(D-Carlinville). " People need to be made aware of the risk factors

and how important it is to be screened for the disease. I lost my

husband to this disease and I want to do everything I can to help

prevent others from dying of colon cancer. "

The legislation was co-sponsored by state Rep. Hannig

(D-Gillespie).

" I was honored to sponsor this legislation in memory of my

dear friend, Vince Demuzio, whose life was cut short by colon cancer.

If we can increase awareness of this disease, more lives may be able

to be saved, " said Rep. Hannig.

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer (colon and

rectum) is the third most common cancer found in men and women in the

United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will

be about 104,950 new cases of colon cancer and 40,340 new cases of

rectal cancer in 2005 in this country. Combined, they will cause

about 56,290 deaths.

In 2002 in Illinois, there were 7,147 people (all races)

diagnosed with colorectal cancer with a rate of 58.2 per 100,000

population. The colorectal cancer rate was the highest among African

Americans (68.5) and was the lowest among Hispanics (40.7).

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the

state, with 2,705 deaths in Illinois in 2002, and more than 3,000

deaths projected for 2005.

Risk factors include a personal or family history of

colorectal cancer, colon polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease, age,

smoking, physical inactivity and a low-fiber, high-fat diet. When

found and treated early, colon cancer can often be cured. People with

a family history of colorectal cancer may benefit from starting

screening tests when they are younger and having them done more often

than people without this risk factor.

" The American Cancer Society is appreciative of the

leadership and commitment made by Sen. Deanna Demuzio and Gov.

Blagojevich, to make Illinoisans aware of the benefits of colorectal

cancer screening, " said Adrienne E. White, vice president of Health

Initiatives and Advocacy, American Cancer Society. " The reality is,

colorectal cancer, when detected early, has survival rates of more

than 90 percent. Yet, fewer than 25 percent of Americans, age 50 and

older, follow early detection screening guidelines. If we can

increase the screening rates through education, we can raise the

five-year survival rate significantly from the current rate of just 64

percent. "

The second new law the Governor signed today creates the

Sarcoidosis Research Fund. Funds raised by the check off created by

House Bill 2470 will go toward grants for Sarcoidosis research.

HB 2470 was sponsored by state Rep. Constance A.

(D-Chicago) and state Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago).

Rep. introduced the legislation after several

people with Sarcoidosis told her about the disease.

" A number of people began telling me about this strange

sounding disease that causes them all sorts of problems, including

lung problems, " said Rep. . " I suffer from asthma and I know

what it's like to not be able to breathe, which is a problem that some

victims of the disease struggle with. There didn't seem to be a lot

of research being done and I felt that a tax checkoff would be a good

way to raise funds for that purpose. More research needs to be done to

help prevent the pain and suffering that its victims endure. "

" Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease that greatly impacts

people's lives, " said Hunter. " There is not a great understanding of

this disease, therefore more research must be conducted in order to

provide treatment, educate and promote awareness, " said Sen. Hunter.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by

widespread lesions that may affect any organ or tissue of the body.

The liver is frequently affected, as are the skin, lungs, lymph nodes,

spleen, eyes and small bones of the hands and feet. The disease

occurs predominately between the ages of 20 to 40, affects more women

than men and occurs more often in African Americans.

Sarcoidosis, which has an unknown cause, is generally a

chronic disease, lasting for several years or a lifetime. Some

people, however, may have a type that only lasts a few months. Most

people have no symptoms, while others may have symptoms that include:

skin, lung or eye problems, arthritis, myositis, fever, fatigue and

weight loss.

Treatment can control symptoms or improve the function of

organs affected by the disease. Not everyone requires treatment and

treatment may or may not affect the long-term outcome of the disease.

About 50 percent of Sarcoidosis patients improve

spontaneously. The disease is fatal in less than 5 percent of patients.

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), an

organization that independently funds sarcoidosis research, was a

proponent of the legislation.

" FSR feels strongly that the causes of this disease, and

ultimately a cure, will be uncovered through rigorous and extensive

scientific research, " said , FSR president and founder.

" We commend Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois legislature for

their efforts to raise important research funds that will benefit the

many patients in Illinois who suffer from this common, yet devastating

disease. "

Both new laws change the Illinois Income Tax Act to create

tax checkoffs for the two funds. Taxpayers may contribute to the fund

by indicating on their income tax return form the amount they wish to

donate. The amount pledged will either decrease the amount of a refund

or increase the amount due. All donations are tax deductible. Funds

must generate a minimum of $100,000 in order to appear on the next

year's tax form.

The new laws are effective Jan. 1, 2006, and the funds

will be included on the 2005 Illinois 1040 income tax return.

IDPH administers three other funds that taxpayers can

contribute to: Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund, Lou Gehrig's Disease

Research Fund and the Penny Severns Breast and Cervical Cancer

Research Fund.

" With today's signing of these laws, Illinois taxpayers

will have an opportunity to help improve the health and lives of other

Illinois residents, " said Dr. E. Whitaker, state public health

director. " Over the years, Illinois taxpayers have shown their

generosity by contributing to other health-related funds that have

benefited citizens throughout the state. "

Today's announcement is part of Governor Blagojevich's

long standing effort to make sure that more people get more health

care and better benefits, protect coverage for those who have health

care, and help hospitals, doctors and nurses provide better health

care. Specifically:

· Best in the nation for providing

health care to the working poor: Since Governor Blagojevich took

office, 313,000 more men, women and children have received health care

through the KidCare and FamilyCare programs - at a time when most

states are not only not providing more coverage for the working poor,

but also kicking people off of Medicaid or significantly reducing

their benefits. This year's budget included funding to add another

56,000 men, women and children. The Kaiser Foundation has ranked

Illinois the best state in the nation for providing health care to

people who need it.

· One of only a handful of states to

protect Medicaid recipients: The budget signed by Governor Blagojevich

a few weeks ago ensures - for the third consecutive year, despite

facing budget deficits - that Medicaid recipients maintain their

health care, unlike states ranging from Missouri to Tennessee to Texas

to Washington who are either kicking people off of Medicaid or

significantly reducing benefits.

· First state to develop a statewide

small business health insurance pool and program: Governor Blagojevich

and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce are developing a small

business health insurance program that will help small businesses

reduce their costs by 10-15% and provide more health care for their

employees. Illinois will be the first state to create a pool where

businesses of 50 employees or less can join, saving money on the

negotiated rate, administrative costs and broker fees.

· First state to make rx drugs from

Europe and Canada available: Under Governor Blagojevich, Illinois

became the first state to allow its citizens to purchase prescription

drugs from Europe and Canada. More than 10,000 people have enrolled

in the last few months alone to take advantage of lower prices (25-50%

less) for over 120 name brand prescription drugs.

· Most comprehensive state response to

fill in gaps in the federal rx drug benefit: This spring, the General

Assembly passed the Governor's Leave No Senior Behind legislation,

which is Illinois' response to the federal Medicare rx drug benefit.

Because of the major holes in the federal program, the Governor's plan

fills in the gaps, so Illinois seniors will not suffer the same fate

that face seniors in other states.

· First state to require pharmacists to

dispense female contraceptives: In April, Governor Blagojevich issued

an emergency rule requiring pharmacists whose pharmacies sell

contraception to dispense birth control to women with valid

prescriptions. The Governor's emergency rule will become permanent

this summer. In addition, the state will soon launch a new website to

help women know which insurers now cover contraceptives, helping

hundreds of thousands of women save an average of $400/ year on the

cost of their contraceptives.

· Improving women's health programs:

Governor Blagojevich created the Illinois Healthy Women program to

provide health care to women who otherwise would go without. To date,

the program has served more than 90,000 women. In addition, Illinois

has dramatically increased the number of mammograms and cervical

cancer screenings since Governor Blagojevich took office.

· Accessing nearly $2 billion in new

federal health care money: This summer, Governor Blagojevich will sign

the hospital assessment legislation, which means nearly $2 billion in

new federal funding for Illinois hospitals. Last year, the Governor

persuaded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to approve

a plan that meant nearly $500 million in new federal funds for

Illinois hospitals. This plan, which requires federal approval but

was constructed with their guidelines in mind, means more than three

times that amount.

· Medical Malpractice Reform: This

summer, Governor Blagojevich will sign major medical malpractice

reform legislation, which will reduce the cost of insurance premiums

for doctors and stop doctors from leaving the state. Governor

Blagojevich helped pass the legislation despite his personal

opposition to caps, because making sure that people have access to

health care is probably the most important function government performs.

· Reducing the nursing shortage: This

summer, Governor Blagojevich will sign a package of bills aimed at

reducing the nursing shortage in Illinois, including making it easier

for foreign nurses to practice in Illinois. The state also eliminated

the nurses registration backlog this April and increased the amount

available in grants for nurses training. This fulfills the initiative

launched by the Governor in his State of the State address to reduce

the nursing shortage.