State Efforts

Join forces with APF, other organizations and thousands of others across the United States who are committed to raising public awareness and promoting the best pain policy, legislation and practice. By uniting, mobilizing and leveraging our collective voices, we can improve pain management. It is not acceptable that 76.5 million Americans suffer pain and the majority do not receive appropriate care!

California State Residents:

8/17/10
Step Therapy Bill (AB 1826) Does Not Pass Committee
California’s “fail first” bill (AB 1826), which limits the practice of step therapy in the state, was put on suspense by the State Senate Appropriations committee on August 2, 2010. This means the bill was put on hold until the state’s fiscal situation can be evaluated. When evaluated in light of the state’s current fiscal crisis the bill did not move forward. This is a defeat but we will not stop fighting. We hope to see the bill reintroduced in the next legislative session. We will keep you updated. See APF's position statement on step therapy or the full bill text here. Thank you for taking action on this important issue. Your voice does make a difference!

Washington State Residents: 

8/17/10
Washington State’s Chronic Pain Management Bill (ESBH2876)
Washington State has two rules committee meetings August 30, 2010, and September 14, 2010, to determine the general prescribing rules related to ESBH2876. APF has been actively involved in attending these meetings and contributing expert information to the rules committee. After these meetings, the individual medical, dental, podiatry, osteopathic, and nursing commissions will revise and finalize their opioid prescribing guidelines that will become law in June 2011. There is still time to make your voice heard and ensure that the rules committee and individual commissions are keeping the rights and needs of people with pain in focus. Visit the state rules making website to email your comments to the committee or attend one of the final two rules making sessions.

6/28/10
WA State Providers Also Need to Get Involved in the rules-making process that will affect how chronic pain is managed in the state. Click here to see what you can do.

6/4/10
ACT NOW to Influence WA State Pain Policy
Unfortunately, Washington state bill, SHB 2876, a chronic pain management bill which potentially limits access to treatment for people with pain and requires all WA state providers to follow new pain care guidelines passed and is now moving forward to the rules making process. While we were unable to stop this bill as it moved quickly through the WA state legislature, there is still an opportunity to make your voice heard and limit the negative impact of this bill. Please click here to see what you can do. Click here to read the full text of the bill as passed.

3/2010
Thank you for responding to our alert and speaking up for the rights of people with pain! 
We united our voices in regards to Washington (WA) state pain legislation - SHB 2876. With your help this bill was amended before it passed the WA Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2010, with some improvement in the language. Click here for the full text of the bill as it passed the Senate.

Share Your Pain Story
If you are a WA State resident interested in sharing your story and registering your opinion with the public, elected officials and other decision makers in Washington State, please complete our WA State Pain Survey. By sharing your voice and experience, you will help increase awareness about the need for timely and appropriate pain care. Click here to take action and for more information.

New York State Residents:

Pain Awareness Briefing was held in Albany, New York on January 26, 2010
The briefing, Treating Pain: Arming New Yorkers with Access, succeeded in raising awareness among legislators and members of the public about the importance of having pain adequately and appropriately treated. For a complete agenda of the day’s events and more information, please click here.  

Last Updated: 08/25/10