FWD: Legislative Update

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From: byrd45 (Original Message) Sent: 4/24/2007 2:21 PM

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
PAIN WILL BE BETTER TREATED UNDER LANDMARK LEGISLATION PASSED IN ALBANY

The New York State Legislature has enacted into law as part of the just-completed 2007-08 budget the Palliative Care Education and Training Act, the first of its kind in the nation, to improve palliative care and pain management. The New York State Legislature is again on the front line to ensure high quality patient centered care. Initiated by Compassion & Choices, the legislation addresses, in a number of meaningful ways, the urgent public health care crisis of the undertreatment of pain.

In summary, the legislation will do the following:

Establish a statewide advisory council on palliative care and pain management;
Create undergraduate and graduate palliative care training programs;
Establish state Department of Health-designated Centers for Palliative Care Excellence; and
Authorize the Department of Health to certify one or more palliative care resource centers to assist physicians in the treatment of patients in pain.
$4.6 million is authorized annually, primarily for the training programs. “Many health care professionals are unaware of the new resources available for their patients to relieve pain,” said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried (D-Manhattan), sponsor of the Assembly bill. “This legislation will help train physicians and other professionals to relieve the suffering of thousands of New Yorkers. I am grateful that Compassion & Choices of New York took the initiative to work with us on this important legislation.” Senator Kemp Hannon, (R-Long Island) Chair of the Senate Health Committee and lead Senate sponsor said; “Passage of this legislation is an important step to ensure that in the future patients will get effective palliative care and pain treatment. I am excited that those with expertise in the field across the state and across disciplines will be working with and advising the Commissioner of Health.”