Regulatory & Legislative Update

The National Pain Care Policy Act:
The American Pain Foundation and 106 organizations, including SCCPI, from the pain care community support the introduction of the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009, H.R. 756 in the U.S. House of Representatives. This important bill was introduced by Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mike Rodgers (R-MI) and is a reintroduction of H.R. 2994 from the 110th Congress, which passed in the House of Representatives in 2008. If passed in Congress, it will be presented to the President to sign into law.  

The bill would help to improve outreach, provider educational training, research, and develop an awareness of the complex issues in treating pain.  It recommends: 

*    Creating an Institute of Medicine
      Conference on Pain Care
* Forming a Pain Consortium at the National
      Institute of Health
* Providing much needed pain care
      education and training for health care
      professions
* Initiating a comprehensive public education
      and awareness program. 

For a summary of the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 and how it will have a positive impact in the lives of millions suffering with pain go to the following website . Please let your legislators know that you support this important legislation! 

NCPI Stakeholders Report:
The Northern California Pain Initiative (NCPI) held a successful discussion forum, “Improving Pain Management in California: Next Steps” on Friday, December 5, 2008 in Sacramento, CA.  Invited participants included pain management experts, pain advocates, representatives from pain stakeholder organizations, health care practitioners, and regulatory and legislative representatives.   

The discussion forum goal was to identify challenges to safe and effective pain management, then to recommend actions to improve pain management practice in California.  The agenda was designed to promote discussion and open exchange of ideas.  Following each presentation, expert panelists responded to and commented on the presentation from their particular perspectives. The audience was also invited to provide input and comment. 

Aaron M. Gilson, MS, MSSW, PhD, with the Pain &  Policy Studies Group and World Health Organization Collaborating Center presented the keynote address: “How to Improve the Policy Environment for Pain Management in California.”  Dr. Gilson concisely identified the policy and regulatory challenges we face in California, setting an excellent tone for our discussions during the rest of the meeting. 

Power Over Pain Action Network:
POPAN (Power Over Pain Action Network), is looking for volunteers both professionals, people in pain, and caregivers to join POPAN.  In this role, they have the opportunity to attend a summit with all expenses covered to lean how to become an advocate and join the many voices working to improve pain care.  The 2009 summit will be held in Minneapolis, MN from June 12-14, 2009.    

POPAN Leaders help increase awareness about pain management issues with individuals as well as by targeting media and legislators to improve policy as it surrounds the under treatment of pain. As a leader you will receive training in community outreach, media outreach and messaging and legislative advocacy.  It is an incredible opportunity to network with others, both individuals involved in the networks and alliances to improve pain care.  For more information visit POPAN or contact Mayssa Sultan. 

The Primary Goal of POPAN is to inform, motivate, and harness the millions of voices of people affected by pain, to raise public awareness and improve pain policy, access, and practice.

Role of Leaders:  POPAN Leaders function as point persons for pain care advocacy activities in their states.  For a more complete list of roles please see our POPAN website.

·    While leaders may focus their Power Over Pain efforts in a particular type of advocacy work, the goal is for all trained POPAN Leaders to engage in activities in each of the following three areas: 

o    Legislative and policy advocacy (writing and speaking with your state and federal  representatives)

o    Media advocacy (writing and speaking with the media)

o    Community outreach (Power Over Pain presentations, speaking about the rights of people with pain to local support groups, community centers, etc., referring the public to APF resources) 

The APF provides state leaders with staff, support, materials and publications, and offers an annual advocacy training for which all expenses are covered by APF.  This annual training provides strategies for community outreach, speaking with the media, legislative/policy advocacy and network building.