December 15, 2000 - the United States Senate and House of Representatives voted to waive the current 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage of people diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), as part of the fiscal year 2001 spending bill (H.R. 4577) for labor, health and human services, and education. This is an historic victory for the ALS community.

This legislation, authored by Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA), garnered bi-partisan support from 282 co-sponsors in the House and 28 in the Senate. As the 106th Congress drew to a close, both authors rallied their constituents to attach this waiver to the Medicare give-back.

"The ALS Association is extremely grateful to bill authors Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) for their determined efforts on behalf of the ALS community," stated Mike Havlicek, president of The ALS Association. "Their stewardship of this bill, along with the bi-partisan support of their colleagues, helped ratify this first-ever ALS-specific legislation to help those affected by the disease."

A common problem for individuals stricken with ALS is that, due to the progressive nature of the disease, and the lack of diagnostic tests, a final diagnosis is often made only after a year or more of symptoms and searching for answers. Once a diagnosis is finally made, the tragedy is needlessly worsened by having to wait 24 months for coverage of the care they so desperately need. Elimination of this waiting period will positively affect the lives of people with ALS, and provide them access to care they may not otherwise have been able to receive under the current law.

"Because of the hard work and perseverance of ALS patients, their families, and The ALS Association, Medicare will now cover ALS patients when they become ill," said Congresswoman Lois Capps. "I have been inspired by their stories and feel honored to have introduced this legislation on their behalf. Much more remains to be done, but today Congress has helped thousands of patients and families struggling with this devastating disease."

"It has been almost three years since I began this fight on behalf of ALS patients," said Senator Robert Torricelli. "I am extremely proud that the day has finally come to eliminate this arbitrary and cruel restriction. This tremendous victory is long overdue and will literally improve the lives of thousands of people struggling to cope with the horrors of ALS. It will mean that no ALS patient will ever again be faced with the indignity of going bankrupt while waiting for Medicare assistance."