Sleep Advocacy Group Endorses
Rendell As Next PA. Governor
PHILADELPHIA (Sat., April 6, 2002)
-- Following the nation's first gubernatorial forum focused
exclusively on sleep, the Awake In Philly Community Education Group
announced today that it is lending its endorsement for governor to Edward
G. Rendell, former mayor of Philadelphia in the 2002 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial
Primary, to be held on Tuesday, May 21.
The group, with membership of more than 300, focuses
its efforts on creating awareness and public education related to sleep
disorders and sleep deprivation, noted that the Rendell
campaign offered what appears to be the greatest opportunity for
public education, awareness, and assistance to the estimated 713,000
Pennsylvanians believed to suffer sleep apnea. The total number of Pennsylvanians
suffering any form of sleep disorder likely totals more than one million.
With that in mind, it's hoped the next governor of Pennsylvania
help set the pace for the rest of this great nation to follow. No other
state in the union has taken steps to help protect those with sleep
disorders, or create insurance mandates.
As the situation stands now, in Pennsylvania, as well as
the rest of the nation, insurance companies dictate what is covered
when it comes to the issue of sleep disorders. Insurance mandates
would fill the gap. One prime example is that many people with health
insurance are denied the chance to have an overnight sleep study conducted
in a certified sleep lab, which is crucial to diagnosis.
Herb Vederman, who represented the Rendell
campaign, said essential items and supplies used by people with
sleep disorders, such as CPAP and BiPAP machines and nasal masks, should be
treated as pharmaceutical items. Vederman went on to explain that
Rendell is endorsing a state-funded program to purchase medical supplies
and pharmaceuticals for senior citizens. He said that Rendell might
be able to find creative financing options to assist those suffering
sleep disorders.
The issue of supplies and other items is at the crux of
therapy for many people with sleep disorders. An CPAP and BiPAP machine, on
average costs more than $1,200, and a nasal mask costs more than $150.
Most masks last approximately three to six months. Vederman added
that as Governor, Rendell would discuss adding people with sleep disorders
to current programs. “We share your concerns,” Vederman
said.
Rendell, aside from serving as the 121st mayor of one of
America's largest cities from 1992-1999, was elected District
Attorney of the City
of Philadelphia for two terms, serving from 1978 through 1985.
Rendell is also a partner at Ballard, Spahr, Andrews, and Ingersoll,
LLP, in addition to teaching two government and political courses
at the University of Pennsylvania, and remains active in the community
through membership on a variety of boards. Rendell, an Army
veteran, is a graduate of the University
of Pennsylvania and Villanova
Law School.
Vederman said Rendell's policy has always been to try helping
people without raising taxes and finding creative funding solutions.
He went on to say that Rendell is also supportive of funding for law
enforcement agencies to be educated on fatigue.
Following the forum, Darrel Drobnich, senior director of
government and transportation affairs for the National
Sleep Foundation, said he was “extremely pleased with the
forum. This is the first of its kind in the nation and Awake In Philly
is setting the pace.” The NSF is a Washington, DC-based non-profit
organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of sleep
and sleep disorders through education, research and advocacy to improve
public heath and safety. Drobnich continued, saying that “creating
awareness at the senior levels of government is essential” and
that “this forum is helping to achieve that goal.”
Coordinator Dave Jackson, following the forum, said, “This
is an important first step in reaching our elected officials and meeting
the needs of the sleep disorder community. We hope this effort inspires
others across the country to host similar forums and actively engaged
their elected officials in open dialog.”
All five men seeking to be the next governor of Pennsylvania
were invited to the forum. Only Rendell, Michael
Morrill, and Mike Fisher's campaigns accepted the invitation.
Fisher's campaign did not have a representative at the forum because
of a family emergency.
Jackson noted that Morrill, the Green Party candidate, represented at the forum by John Hogan, proposed universal health insurance in Pennsylvania. Hogan said that people using “CPAP shouldn't have to make a decision between their mortgage and their health.”
Hogan said the Morrill campaign believes mandatory overtime in the health profession should be “kept humanely manageable.”
Because of the campaigns demonstrated vision and focus,
Awake In Philly hereby endorses Ed Rendell as its choice
for the next governor of Pennsylvania.
Random
Fact:
Interesting Apnea Statistics
~~ Apnea in the United States ~~
As of September 23, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (-0500), the U.S. population was 305,235,619. With new estimates
that about seven percent of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that means
there are potentially 21,366,493 apneics in the U.S.
Apnea around the world ~~
As of September 23, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (-0500), the world population was 6,725,518,671. With new estimates
that about seven percent of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that means
there are potentially 470,786,307 apneics in the world.
Awake In Philly is a community education group for individuals who have been
diagnosed with at least one of the recognized sleep disorders, as well as anyone
else impacted by those with sleep disorders. The information contained in this
site is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending
with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake In Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders,
as well as the general public, and is not intended to replace medical
advice, nor is any information to be misinterpreted as an attempt to diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please
contact a qualified medical professional immediately. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained healthcare professionals.
Citation: David F. Jackson.
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