Ten reasons patients and families are attending SADS 5th International Conference:

1. To learn the most cutting edge information available from world renowned experts on SADS conditions.
2. To find out what ALL the treatment options are for SADS conditions.
3. To meet other families with stories like yours.
4. To visit the healing wall to pay respect to those who have passed away.
5. To give voice to your experiences in a community that understands.
6. To celebrate those who are living and thriving with SADS conditions.
7. To see where the future of treating SADS is heading - and what your care might look like down the road.
8. To be inspired by the individuals who have fought and raised money for SADS, for research, and for their communities in the most creative ways.
9. To hear what legislative action is being done to benefit those with SADS conditions.
10. To see what research is being done and how you can help. 

Don't forget--Registration is %50 off until September 1st!!  

The quarterly review of literature for Q2 (April-June 2011) is now available on www.StopSADS.org.  Moving forward this email service will be available to physicians and other medical professionals as we expand our medical education program.  If you'd like to continue receiving this quarterly review of literature, contact Christine at Christine@sads.org or call 800-STOP-SAD to join the mailing list.   

The SADS Foundation joined other members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Coalition recently in signing a letter of support regarding the proposed changes to Medicare.  The current proposal would include a new 20% coinsurance on laboratory services, causing the Medicare beneficiary absorb more of the up-front costs related to laboratory testing.  This is especially concerning to patients who rely on clinical laboratory tests for the diagnosis and treatment decisions regarding SADS conditions. 

In other news, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan has recently been improved.  If you or a loved one has a pre-existing condition and are uninsured, this plan and the recent changes could help you tremendously. Beginning July 1, 2011 rates have been significantly reduced and eligibility has been simplified.  What does this mean?  Well, PCIP varies depending on your state of residence.  Visit www.PCIP.gov to find out how your state is working with the PCIP.  You can also call the PCIP toll-free hotline at 866-717-5826. 

On July 1-2nd, the SADS Foundation exhibited at the 43rd annual National Association of School Nurses (NASN) conference in Washington, DC.  It didn't take long for us to realize how passionate, enthusiastic and eager to learn and support families in their communities that this group was!  We had fabulous booth attendance and were surprised to learn how many of the school nurses across the country had heard of cardiac channelopathies such as Long QT Syndrome and Brugada Syndrome, many of which had families in their school district living and thriving with these conditions.  We handed out informational packets and risk assessment forms and even ran short on copies of our student care plans.  Links to our care plans and risk assessment forms for sports participation were sent last week to the list of nurses who stopped by and already we have received emails thanking us for the important information.  Several nurses have reached out to us inviting us to participate in local school nurse seminars and conferences as well.  We are excited to grow our relationship with this wonderful group of healthcare providers and look forward to working closely with them as well as their colleagues such as coaches and school administrators to bring cutting edge information and education about SADS conditions to their schools.