NEWSBREAK: REEGAN’S RULE PASSES SENATE 47-0—WILL BECOME LAW

 At 11:56 last night, according to the official record of the North Carolina body of State Senators; The State Senate voted and passed Reegan’s Law paving the way for the Governor to sign it making it law.  The vote was 47-0 in the Senate.  The Governor is expected to sign.

The law was attached to another law dealing with Pharmacy benefit managers, but the wording stayed the same with Reegan’s Rule and will be entered into the law books for all time:

Senate Bill 694
Short Title: Reegan’s Rule/Enforce Pharm. Ben. Mgt.
A bill to be entitled: AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE PARENT EDUCATION DURING WELL-CHILD VISITS AT SPECIFIC AGE INTERVALS REGARDING TYPE 1 DIABETES AND TO AMEND THE LAW PERTAINING TO PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina Enacts:
Section 1. Part 3 of article 7 of chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
130A-221.5 Diabetes education as part of well-child-care
Each physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner who provides well-child care is encouraged to educate and discuss the warning signs of Type I diabetes and symptoms with each parent for each child under the care of the physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner at least once during the following intervals:
(1)   Birth
(2)   Twelve months of age
(3)   Twenty-four months of age
(4)   Thirty-six months of age
(5)   Forty-eight months of age
(6)   Sixty months of age

Section 2 (this part of the law is all pertaining to the law regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers and has nothing directly related to diabetes—if you want the entire law–email me and I will send it to you).

I spoke to Darice, Reegan’s mom this morning, Representative Graham, and I spoke to Representative Graham’s office as well—-they adjourned at 4:15 a.m. this morning–many tired lawmakers.  It was an emotional discussion with Darice, a woman who I have come to admire and love beyond measure. In this emotional discussion I thanked her and assured her that what she had done would change this diabetes world we live in.  I could sense, through her many tears, so many mixed emotions.  It was an emotional discussion with Representative Graham as well.

And here’s why THIS law is so important.

For the record, we are VERY AWARE that this law is not what was originally planned.  It is not a mandatory….anything.  We understand that fact as much as, or more than, anyone else.  BUT what it is, we believe, is a passed law of which has not been seen before.  Can it be better and stronger????? you bet.  But now there is a law stating diabetes education.

It’s a start.  A BIG start.  AND THAT is huge.  Now it’s up to us…..what will we do with it?

Going through not only this process, as well as it is getting any law on the books, was a long process.  And Representative Charles Graham, and State Senator Jane Smith pushed long and hard for Reegan’s Rule law to pass, and we could not be more grateful.  Without their passion and drive, this law never happens.   And many thanks to the so many people who wrote letters and a special shout out to my friend Bennet Dunlap and DPAC Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition who stepped up at a crucial and needed time in this process.

And on behalf of this diabetes community (if I may be so bold) I so sincerely and humbly thank Reegan’s Family.  We have no idea of the toll this took getting this done…..and at the end of the day, in their lives, the loss is monumental and unchanged; that will never change.  THIS WAS NOT AN EASY ROAD FOR THEM.  They did it because it needed to get done, they did it because it was important, they did to help others NOT go through what they went through.  In the end, they ( and we, the diabetes community) did it………………..for Little Reegan.

And that’s good enough reason for all of us.  Onward.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.