Call to Action -- Ensure optimized asthma care in Missouri!

Just last month, Governor Nixon signed a budget bill into law (HB 2011.528) that allows for qualified practitioners in the State to provide and be reimbursed for providing asthma education and home assessments to high-risk children with severe asthma.  We thank everyone who wrote to the Governor, legislators and other policymakers about improving asthma care in our great state.

Now we have another call to action:  Please take five minutes to call or write to Governor Jay Nixon and Dr. Joe Parks, Director of MO HealthNet, IMPLORING them to ensure that the proper, certified personnel (e.g., Certified Asthma Educators and home assessors) are providing the asthma education services and healthy home assessments to those who qualify in the State, and that these qualified practitioners are reimbursed accordingly for these life-saving services. Please copy and paste the email below into a letter or email, and feel free to add in your own story as it relates to the benefits of asthma education and home assessments.

Governor Nixon

Email Form: https://governor.mo.gov/get-involved/contact-the-governors-office

Phone:  573-751-3222
Address: Office of Governor Jay Nixon, P.O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Dr. Joe Parks

Email: Joe.Parks@dss.mo.gov

Phone:  573-751-3425

Address:  Dr. Joe Parks, MO HealthNet, 615 Howerton Court Dr., PO Box 6500 Jefferson City, MO 65102-6500

Dear Governor Nixon/Dr. Parks, 

I am writing to show my support of the "Asthma Clause," asking that the funds appropriated through HB 2011.528 are allocated to appropriate, certified practitioners to provide asthma education and home assessments to high-risk asthma patients throughout the State of Missouri.  These educational services should be available in the clinic, school, community or home settings.  Regarding home assessments, it is imperative that trained personnel are assigned and reimbursed to identify mold, pests, defective heating/air conditioning equipment and other asthma triggers in the home.  These services are both essential pieces in the comprehensive asthma management protocol.

I urge you to implement this "Asthma Clause," to ensure the funding for asthma services (education and home assessments) goes through the proper channels.

ASTHMA FACTS: 

-Effective asthma education lowers the burden of asthma AND health care costs
-Reducing indoor asthma triggers decreases asthma symptoms and the amount of medication needed to treat asthma
-Asthma-trained school nurses can help students be better breathers of their medications, be healthier and feel better about having asthma.

Thank you for your time.