Cordblood Collection Law

[Peggy Willocks <dwillocks@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Re message:
http://parkinsons-information-exchange-networkonline.com/parkmail1/2004a/msg00191.html

Nearly 1 year ago the state of Illinois signed HB1843 into law with the
close
help of Joan Blessington Snyder. I was wondering if anyone had a report on
how this is going in Illinois or other states?  How can this law be
improved?  Where can I find more info on
this research without getting biased reporting from private collection
companies?
Peggy
 Below is part of that message written by Joan:

"State Representative David R, Leitch has done a remarkable job in not only
using the language but also the pursuasion to have HB 1843 pass unanomiously
in both the State House and the State Senate and to be signed into law by
Governer Rod Balagojevich in time to take effect on
 01-01-04. Illinois' pregnant women will be asked if they would like to
donate their cord blood for stem cell use and research.This program, which
costs the mother-to-be nothing but her consent, can retreive the millions of
stem cells which are routinely tossed as medical waste.These stem cells are
used worldwide for bone marrow transplants, for curing dozens of childhood
diseases and are being found increasingly effective in treating adult
diseases.

As if this isn't enought encouragment to donate your cord blood, consider
this:
 cord blood transplants (unless there is a direct family match) are superior
to convential bone marrow transplants. With conventional transplants, donor
searches take up to 3-4 months, odds are slim of success and the process is
painful for donors and recipients. Rejection (or what is called graft and
host disease) is about 30%, compared to less than 10% with cord blood. Cord
blood is also cheaper ($15,300 per unit versus $30,000 conventionally). In a
study by the Illinois Dept. of Public Aid, it was determied that by using
cord blood stem cells rather than bone marrow in transplants for the
four-year period from 1999-2002, Medicare and you, the taxpayer, could have
saved $14,494,000.00. So, I was thrilled when Representative Leitch called
me and asked me to help him begin the job of educating the public as to the
need for cord blood donations and the difference they will make if harvested
rather than destroyed
Joan Blessington Snyder"

I was wondering if anyone had a report on how this is going in Illinois
orother states?  How can this law be improved?  Where can I find more info
onthis research without getting biased reporting from private collection
companies?
Peggy

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