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Pioneer Press Online, IL September 4, 2003 ILLINOIS - New law expands Circuit Breaker Legislation backed by Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, R-31st, of Zion, will add medicine used to treat Multiple Sclerosis to the State's Circuit Breaker program. The law becomes effective in January. "Treatment for MS can help prevent expensive hospitalization that patients require if the disease goes untreated," said Geo-Karis. "When the symptoms can be controlled with medication, this is unnecessary yet many still go without treatment because they cannot afford the prescriptions." Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms can range from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision. Senate Bill 293/Public Act 93-528 adds medication to treat MS to the list of drugs covered by the Circuit Breaker program. The pharmaceutical assistance portion of the program currently offers discount prescriptions for diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, glaucoma, and lung disease and smoking related illnesses. Participants in the program must be at least 65 years old with an annual household income of less than $21,218 (one person), $28,480 (two people), or $35,740 (three people) or younger than 16 years old and disabled. Senior citizens or disabled individuals wishing to apply for Circuit Breaker may do so online at http://www.iltax.com (select Circuit Breaker) or by calling 1-800-624-2459 or the forms order line at 1-800-356-6302. Reference: Circuit Breaker and Prescription Coverage http://www.revenue.state.il.us/CircuitBreaker/ SOURCE: Pioneer Press Online, IL http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/lr/09-04-03-101173.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn