New Book Asks Patients With IBD, "Do You Know Your Rights?"

NEW YORK -- Jennifer Jaff, a Connecticut attorney and a longtime Crohn’s disease sufferer, has written a new book, "Know Your Rights: A Handbook for Patients with Chronic Illness," which addresses the unique legal and social service system issues faced by people with lingering illnesses. Jaff has also issued a special edition, developed in coordination with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), with expanded content for patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Know Your Rights tells patients what to do and how to do it, and offers sample health and disability insurance appeals, an outline of what employers can ask in job interviews, and sample Social Security disability filings. The handbook is a “how to” from a lawyer who has helped hundreds of patients. The CCFA special edition features three additional appendices: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), CCFA Doctors’ Letters, and State-by-State Review of Disability Rulings.

“What I do that is different from what other lawyers do is to recognize that chronic illness is unlike other illnesses,” said Jaff. “A chronic illness comes and goes. The legal and social service systems are not designed to accommodate diseases that are moving targets.”

When the effects of her 30-year battle with Crohn’s disease made it nearly impossible for Jaff to leave her house, she decided to work from home and help others who suffer from chronic illnesses.

Without leaving home, Jaff handles insurance appeals, negotiates severance packages, helps patients obtain Social Security disability or free prescription drugs. In addition, she works with parents and schools to make sure that children who are ill get the education to which they are entitled.

“This book is an invaluable resource to help patients afflicted with IBD navigate difficult coverage issues,” said Rodger DeRose, president and CEO of CCFA. “Jennifer’s legal expertise gives patients and their families hope. Patients who thought they were lost and alone can find comfort in knowing that there are people like Jennifer and organizations like CCFA with their best interests in mind.”

The CCFA special edition of Know Your Rights can be purchased for $35 through the foundation by calling (800) 932-2423 or by visiting www.ccfa.org/store. This edition is available at a discounted price of $31.50 for CCFA members. The standard edition can be purchased at www.advocacyforpatients.org.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn’s disease may attack anywhere from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis inflames the large intestine (colon) only. Symptoms may include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. Some 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from these diseases, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.

About CCFA
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) mission is to cure and prevent Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through research, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases through education and support.

Source: CCFA

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