It's a sad but simple fact - patients suffering from life-threatening or chronic illnesses need access to their prescribed medications. How they pay for them, though, is another story.

Despite paying insurance premiums like everyone else month after month, these patients are being forced to pay a much higher percentage of their healthcare costs as insurance companies jack-up the co-payments for more and more medicines, putting an even bigger burden on those who are suffering already.

Unless you are dealing with this, you probably don't even know that insurance companies divide prescriptions into tiers, which typically have fixed co-payments. Many of these companies have added a "specialty tier," which is a fourth category of medicines that requires the patient to pay co-insurance, or a percentage of the drug price.Often, newer, more expensive or more specialized medicines are placed on these specialty tiers and require a sizable out-of-pocket payment by the patient.

Medications needed for life-threatening or debilitating diseases - like oral medicines for cancer or factor for patients suffering from hemophilia - may cost a patient between 25 to 50 percent of the total cost of the drug.

Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is taking an important step to protect patients across Illinois by introducing Senate Bill 3395 to limit patients' cost-sharing burden, ensuring that any required co-payment to drugs on a specialty tier does not exceed $100 per month.

Joan McGovern, whose husband recently passed away from hemophilia, has first-hand experience worrying about prescription drug costs. Mr. McGovern took Factor 8 for nearly 20 years to manage his disease. Her husband was on Medicare and received full assistance and did not have to pay for Factor 8. If the assistance program did not cover him, he would have had to pay the increased percentage of the co-pay for Factor 8 under the "specialty tiers" category. This would have meant that Mr. McGovern would have had to pay close to $700 every other day for Factor 8 to ensure that he had the life-saving medication he needed to prevent hemorrhaging from his brain and throughout his joints.

Joan also has a 3-year-old grandson who lives with hemophilia. His medication is currently covered by his insurance, but as his condition continues to evolve so will his medical needs. And, sadly, his family will end up having to pay for these exorbitant out-of-pocket costs under the "specialty tiers," which could add up to over $300 per week.

The reality is that most families aren't able to afford expensive medications under these specialty tiers. Patients, who are already suffering, should not have the extra burden of extremely high out-of-pocket costs to manage their illness.

In response to a letter from Loebsack, House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold hearing on propane crisis

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today called on Congress to quickly pass legislation to help ease the propane crunch that Iowa and much of the Midwest are currently facing. Loebsack has been leading the charge to figure out the cause of the recent spike in propane costs as well as fighting to find a solution to the problem. This dramatic rise in propane costs has caused significant hardships for families and farmers. A vote on H.R. 4076, the HHEAT Act of 2014, is expected later today (Tuesday) in the House. After its anticipated passage, it will then head to the Senate for consideration. Also, in response to a letter Loebsack and a bipartisan coalition of Midwestern lawmakers sent last month, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing this Thursday to look into the current propane shortage.

"The sudden increase in the price of propane, combined with an extremely cold winter continues to wreak havoc on many Iowans' pocketbooks. I am pleased this legislation is moving forward to provide some needed relief for folks who heat their homes with propane," said Loebsack. "This is another expense Iowans cannot afford. I will continue to push this legislation forward until it is signed into law by the President. These barriers must be removed to allow a necessary supply of propane to reach Iowans and help lower the price."

In response to the crisis, Loebsack also joined the Iowa delegation in calling on the Federal Trade Commission to review the spike in propane costs, as well as called on the President to take any necessary action to address the problem.

H.R. 4076, "Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014" will address the shortages and interruptions in the availability of propane by providing a blanket exemption from federal restrictions on deliveries of propane and other home heating fuels until May 31, 2014, in states where governors have declared emergencies. Doing so would eliminate the need for state governors to renew their emergency declarations.

PEORIA, Ill. (March 3, 2014) – During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross invites everyone to make a difference in their communities by giving blood, volunteering, taking a class or making a financial donation. Those supporters enable the Red Cross to continue to help people in need like the Roux family.

Jenny Roux's son, Blake, was born with a rare and serious chromosome disorder that causes multiple abnormalities. Jenny and Blake both received two pints of blood the day he was born. For Blake, that marked the first of many transfusions. Jenny said she knew her time with him would be short, but she credits multiple blood transfusions with helping extend his life.

"Without the blood transfusions, I don't know that he would have even had the 10 months we had with him," she said.

At that point Jenny again turned to the Red Cross, and the organization's Service to the Armed Forces program provided emergency communications about Blake's death to her husband, who was deployed to Iraq.

Thanks to everyday heroes, the Red Cross was there for the Roux family in their time of need.

The Red Cross invites the public to discover their inner hero this month. To make an appointment to donate blood or for more information about other ways to get involved with the Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Clinton County

March 23 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway St. in Charlotte, Iowa

March 26 from 3:30-7 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1519 S. Washington Blvd. in Camanche, Iowa

Henry County

March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kewanee High School, 1211 E. Third St. in Kewanee, Ill.

March 25 from 1-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 214 N. W. Second Ave in Galva, Ill.

March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodhull Alwood High School Student Council, 301 E. Fifth Ave. in Woodhull, Ill.

Mercer County

March 18 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mercer County High School, 1500 College Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

March 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at VFW Hall, 106 SW Third Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aledo Genesis Medical Center, 409 North West Ninth Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

Whiteside County

March 19 from 2-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

March 19 from 3-7 p.m. at Abiding Word Church, 806 E. Lynn Blvd. in Sterling, Ill.

March 20 from 12-6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway in Morrison, Ill.

March 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.

March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

March 29 from 5:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.

March 29 from 7-10:30 a.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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There's a lot of hype about March MADness, and if you're an NCAA fan (or married to one) you know it well.

But I'd rather think in terms of March Happiness; training mind and body, just as those basketball players train, to remain positive even when faced with stress, sadness and the cyclicality of life. You can create a habit of happiness.

During March Madness, 68 teams in the College Basketball Association compete the national championship. Sixty-eight teams, one month, 12,000 games - or that's what it feels like to me.

All those teams are vying for that one feel-good moment they've worked so hard to achieve. They've dedicated a large portion of their lives to training body and mind, and when the final two teams compete, one team, each team member, and thousands of fans experience fulfillment and happiness.

This March, compete against yourself. Train your mind and body to be healthier and happier than ever before. At this point in the game, you may feel the odds are against you. About 40 percent of people who set New Year's Resolutions have already quit trying. But this month, you are powering up, not gearing down.

You can do it. Here are my TOP 3 Tips for being happy in March and all year long:

Smile and Wave Goodbye to the Toxic People: Waving goodbye has never made you smile so big. In a world where everyone faces uncontrollable stressors and negativity every day (no matter how happy of a person you are), you must get rid of the things and people that are only going to bring you further down. Rid yourself of the toxic people in your life, the haters and the hurters. Take control of your happiness by not allowing others to steer your emotions up and down, or steal them altogether. If you can't completely rid yourself of the negative people, you can definitely set boundaries to minimize your interactions with them. Saying goodbye means saying hello to happiness.

Take Time to Decide: The best way to be unhappy is to go around making promises or commitments you can't live up to or, if you do live up to them, you despise every moment of it. You get one life, so make it a happy one. Don't over commit to someone else and then under commit to yourself. Your happiness is just as important as everyone else's, and don't think otherwise.

When you make an impulsive decision, it is typically based on intense emotions and made with little thought. In most cases, quick decisions are not only poor decisions, they also reduce your control and even ruin your credibility.

To create happiness, make a habit of taking time when making both large and small decisions. Retreat, Rethink, React are your new decision-making steps, in that order.

Forgive: When you hold grudges, possess anger or find yourself always looking backward, it is hard to move forward. The great thing about forgiveness is you don't have to feel it, you just do it. And you are doing it for you, not the other person. If you are angry with someone, your attention and energy is given to them, not you. You can't control your past, and that can be upsetting sometimes. But you can control your future, and you can drive right up to happiness.

As you compete against yourself in March, you must dedicate a portion of your life to training your body and mind. This takes time and commitment. Remember that you are competing for one thing -- that feel-good moment when you notice more days seem brighter; when you notice the win. It not only lies within you, but within your family (team) and all those who you interact with (fans).

This March, turn your Madness into Happiness.

About Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D, LMHC

Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D., LMHC, is the author of "Type 'S'uperWoman - Finding the Work-Life Balance: A Self-Searching Book for Women," (www.mindfulrehab.com). Motivated by watching those she coaches become successful and with a true passion for helping others, Dr. Kulaga earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, and master's and doctorate's in counseling. As a licensed mental health counselor and certified professional coach, she has a special interest in the complex lives of today's women.