Have you ever thought, “There ought to be a law protecting my right to pain care”? Or wondered why your healthcare provider said his “hands were tied” when it came to your prescription medication? You have the power to influence how laws and policies are formed. While it might seem daunting at first, legislative action is one of the quickest and easiest ways to flex your advocacy muscles.
This section provides a framework for your state and federal legislative outreach. Legislative advocacy can be as simple as sending an e-mail to an elected official requesting their support of a piece of legislation or regulation. It can encompass requesting your Governor’s support to declare September Pain Awareness Month. It can also involve working to identify issues with state pain policies and effecting positive change through representing the interests of people in pain. Legislative advocacy often begins with registering to vote – information on this is included in this section. Because legislators want to know where their constituents stand on the issues, mobilizing individuals or grass roots strategies have become a priority and can be very effective. Becoming involved is not only a right, it’s a responsibility!
Emergency physicians have the expertise and the tools to treat a person in the midst of a pain crisis, but those with chronic...
