Please find below the fourth issue of our new monthly advocacy newsletter, the AAdvocate. Each month we’ll share news about our growing advocacy efforts and ask you to Take Action! on an important issue. We welcome and encourage your feedback-tell us what you like, would like included, or whatever’s on your mind. Please direct all comments to me, Lisa Butler, at lisa@naaf.org or 415-472-3780. Many thanks for helping to make a difference.

1. The Fine-Tuning of a Federal Campaign
   
   NAAF continues to put together all of the resources needed to lay the foundation of a federal campaign. As you know, NAAF is working under a Technical Assistance Grant from the National Health Council to enact legislation to require some level of Medicaid coverage for hair prostheses. During the month of October, NAAF worked with advocates whose Representatives sit on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, the committee of jurisdiction for Medicaid issues, in an effort to set up meetings between the offices of these legislators and NAAF. These efforts proved successful, as NAAF is now working directly with two key members of this committee. Thank you to our advocates who helped with this; your commitment to this campaign will have lasting results.
   
   During December, NAAF will meet with staff from the Centers from Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to see if any portion of our goals of requiring some level of coverage for hair prostheses through Medicaid can be done administratively (without legislation).  
   
   
2. State of Massachusetts; Senate Hearing Date Announced!
   
   Massachusetts State Senate Legislative Bill No. 648, “An Act Providing Health Insurance Coverage for Scalp Hair Prostheses” is up for a hearing date on Wednesday, November 14, 2007. The Bill is to allow scalp prostheses for patients with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis to be covered under their health insurance plan. To read the bill, please visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00648.htm. This is the third attempt to get the “An Act Providing Health Insurance Coverage for Scalp Prostheses” bill passed since January 2003; it is crucial that this time around the bill gets pushed through to the next committee and finally passes. Residents of Massachusetts are urged to get involved by submitting written testimony or volunteering to read oral testimony during the hearing. For more information on how to get involved with the success of Bill No. 648, email lisa@naaf.org.
   
   
3. Take Action!
   
   Do you want your voice heard in Washington?  Do you want better insurance coverage for alopecia areata?  Then it's time to take action!
   
   We are seeking to collect 1,000 signatures on the attached petition in support of improving Medicaid coverage for hair prostheses.  Currently, Medicaid and most private insurance plans do not cover prostheses.  But we're out to change that.
   Please sign the attached petition and ask at least 9 other people to do so as well.  Our goal is to collect at least 1,000 signatures and present them to Medicaid administrators in Washington, DC in early December.
   
   The deadline for submitting signatures is December 7, 2007.  Anyone can sign the petition, including friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and teens.  If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Butler at lisa@naaf.org.
   
   
4. AAdvocate Inspiration!
   
   The exciting potential that Massachusetts has this month to move “An Act Providing Health Insurance Coverage for Scalp Hair Prosthesis” forward through the State Senate has been made possible because of the commitment of Chrissa Kaselis, Walpole, MA, who, on top of being 8 months pregnant and already the mother of a 2 year old, has taken on the role of private investigator, legislative liaison, event organizer and constituent motivator. Persistence led her to discover that the Bill was up for a hearing, and ever since she has been writing copy, gathering testimony and organizing every detail for the November 14th hearing. With no legislative experience under her belt, Chrissa has proved that a mix of passion, patience and persistence is the recipe for success when dealing with issues like insurance coverage. From everyone in Massachusetts, as well as the thousands more that you are inspiring to do the same locally, thank you!