News & Stories
Huge News for ALS in Pennsylvania
We have big news! After months of negotiations, the Pennsylvania state budget has been passed and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro.
The 2025-26 budget continues funding for ALS care services and, for the first time ever, allocates $5 million for neurodegenerative disease research. This historic milestone was made possible because of your advocacy.
At our Annual Celebration, State Representatives Bryan Cutler and Kyle Mullins announced this funding and thanked advocates for sharing their stories to make a real impact.
Watch the news story about the neurodegenerative disease initiative.
Read more about Kyle Mullins, ALS advocates, and research funding.
Fueling Research and Collaboration
This groundbreaking legislation will advance critical research and strengthen collaboration across Pennsylvania’s scientific community.
Financial support through advocacy, combined with your donations, allows ALS United Mid-Atlantic to provide exceptional direct care to people with ALS and their families in Pennsylvania.
This includes direct funding and staff support that help sustain our multidisciplinary treatment center partners:
- The Jefferson Weinberg ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- The ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- The ALS VA Clinic at Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
- The Lehigh Valley Health Network Neuromuscular and ALS Center for Comprehensive Care
- The ALS Clinic at Geisinger Medical Center – Danville
- The ALS Clinic at Geisinger Scranton
- The ALS Clinic at Geisinger Wyoming Valley
On Thursday, November 13th, Rep. Mullins joined Dr. Piera Pasinelli from the Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Dr. Daniela Zarnescu from Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center, Tony Heyl from ALS United Mid-Atlantic, and Stephen Cronin, who is living with ALS, at the PA Life Sciences Patient Summit in Philadelphia to highlight the significance of this new research funding and what it can mean for science in Pennsylvania. Stephen Cronin attended ALS Advocacy Day in Harrisburg earlier this year with his wife Donna, where he shared his story with House Speaker Joanna McClinton about the need to fully fund ALS care and research.
Watch Stephen Cronin’s presentation.
Care Beyond the Clinic
Our Care Services team of experienced nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals collaborate with our ALS United Mid-Atlantic clinic partners to provide comprehensive support and services in both the clinic and the community. These services include:
- Equipment Loan Closet
- Assistive Communication Technology
- Home Assessments
- Ramping and Stair Glides
- Caregiver Assistance
- Resource Groups
- Van Transportation
- Education and guidance on topics ranging from insurance to nutrition
Your Impact Matters
These successes are only possible because of you. Your advocacy, volunteering, donations, and storytelling are driving real change in Pennsylvania. Today’s victories are planting the seeds for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.