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http://coalition4mecfs.org/ICDPR.html
Coalition 4 ME/CFS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Corin Ramos, Walson Communications
Cell Phone: 714-865-4147
Email: corin@walsonpr.com
Coalition 4 ME/CFS Proposal to
Reclassify Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(CFS) in the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM
Accepted for Review by the National
Center for Health Statistics
Coral Gables, FL, September 12, 2011
The Coalition 4 ME/CFS on July 15, 2011, submitted
a proposal (http://bit.ly/nfuPev) to the National Center
for Health Statistics (NCHS) for reclassification of
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a neurological
disease in the United States International
Classification of Diseases-10-CM (ICD-10-CM) and
International Classification of Diseases-9-CM
(ICD-9-CM).
The proposal was accepted for review at the
upcoming meeting of the Coordination and
Maintenance Committee at the Center for Medicare
Services (http://1.usa.gov/pMXX4G) (CMS), in
Baltimore, Maryland, on September 14, 2011.
The proposal request is supported by past and
current recommendations from the CFS
Advisory Committee (CFSAC), an advisory
committee, created under the Federal Advisory
Committee (FACA) statute and regulations.
The proposal request is to reclassify CFS as a
neurological disease in the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM
in recognition of the current scientific understanding
of CFS and its classification in the ICD-10 by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
*The goal of this proposal is to ensure alignment with
ICD-10 under WHO and the clinical modifications
embraced by other countries, and to ensure
alignment with the best current case definition for
CFS, which includes both viral and bacterial
triggers,*
stated Mike Munoz, a member of the Coalition 4
ME/CFS steering committee.
The WHO publishes the ICD, which is used by more
than 100 countries to standardize how diseases are
classified. In the ICD-10, which is the current global
standard, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post viral
fatigue syndrome (PVFS), and CFS are all classified
under Neurological Diseases.
*This proposal is a stepwise change that will separate
cases of ME/CFS from cases of unspecified chronic
fatigue and depression, and in the process, signal to
the medical community the seriousness of this
disease,*
said Lori Chapo-Kroger, another steering committee
member.
It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) that at least one million individuals
in the U.S. and 17 million worldwide (National
Institutes of Health) are stricken with this debilitating,
disabling, and sometimes fatal disease.
The annual economic cost in the U.S. for ME/CFS
according to a recent study published in the Journal
of Dynamic Medicine-Bio Med Central, by Jason et
al., from DePaul University is estimated to be
between 18 and 23 billion dollars.
Marly Silverman, another member of the current
Coalition 4 ME/CFS steering committee added:
*The approval for review of this historical proposal by
the NCHS, highlights the fact that current science is
bringing government health agencies, researchers
and patient advocacy groups together to collaborate,
leading to results that will improve quality of life for
patients afflicted with ME/CFS in the U.S.*
The Coalition 4 ME/CFS supports our scientific
research community in the efforts of retiring the
name chronic fatigue syndrome and the acronym
CFS.
It supports a worldwide collaborative and accepted
case definition, with well-defined diagnostic criteria
and guidelines for implementation of well-devised
treatment standards.
Although the coalition recognizes pragmatically the
effort and time needed to drive this welcome change
across all clinical, research, legal, disability, and
insurance disciplines in the U.S., we believe our
ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM proposal initiative
contributes to a productive timely result.
We acknowledge and express gratitude to Mary
Dimmock, who prepared the proposal request with
solid expertise and diligence on behalf of the
Coalition 4 ME/CFS.
We thank the Coalition 4 ME/CFS steering
committee for their unwavering commitment to this
project.
We acknowledge CFSAC members who have voted
for the recommendations that this proposal supports.
We appreciate the support of physicians and
researchers who provided expert input to the
proposal.
To read the proposal and get more information, visit
the coalition website at Coalition4ME/CFS.org
About NeuroEndocrineImmune Diseases (NEIDs):
NeuroEndocrineImmune diseases include
fibromyalgia (FM), chronic Lyme disease (CLD),
multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), Gulf War
illnesses (GWI), and chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS). CFS is also known in Europe and other
countries as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
About Coalition 4 ME/CFS
Coalition4ME/CFS was founded on March 1, 2011.
The mission of the coalition is to engage and
mobilize governmental health agencies, the private
biomedical industry, researchers, health care
providers, and the public toward finding a cure for
ME/CFS and related NeuroEndocrineImmune
diseases. Visit us on Facebook.
(http://on.fb.me/qg7LWa) Follow us on Twitter
(http://bit.ly/oL0RxG)
Coalition members are the Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome/Fibromyalgia Organization of Georgia,
Inc., CFS Knowledge Center, CFS Solutions of West
Michigan, PANDORA, Inc. (Patient Alliance for
Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for
Research & Advocacy, Inc.), Phoenix Rising, Rocky
Mountain CFS/ME & FM Association (RMCFA),
Vermont CFIDS Association, Inc., and Wisconsin
ME/CFS Association, Inc.
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