The amended National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (HR 2994) - update

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Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 19, 2008 at 1:08pm

Ellen
Yes we could get fentayl back. A lot of doctors prescribe it and DO NOT CARE!!!
I do like the Bill you put up I think it will help in making people aware of pain, and giving money to research...so I am for the Bill
liz

Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 19, 2008 at 1:07pm

Ellen
THE BILL YOU PUT UP IS NOT THE ONE WITH THE FENTANYL EXCLUSION! Just wanted to make that clear. It was on another Bill that was passed a little while ago. I will ask my husband because when that first came down HE WAS FUUUUUUUUUUUUMING MAD!!! He has patients that will commit suicide if they go back to that dark dark place.
As I said...no one should tie your doctors hands.
I know my husband will know which Bill it was on.
I justt wanted togive that example because the fine print is what can hurt us. But i do like the bill you have up!
Give me a couple of hours and I will get you the fentanyl one.
Liz

Comment by Ellen S on September 19, 2008 at 12:06pm

Hi Liz, just stepped in for a while. I'm so glad you checked this out. I think it's important to know about the Fentanyl exclusion.

NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR HOW BEST TO TREAT YOU

For me, that's the bottom line.

I was on Fentanyl for some time. It didn't work for me, but for many people it is a godsend. Take away their Fentanyl and they will become completely disabled. Tormented by pain they are helpless to stop, yet it was controlled before their doctors are told to take it away? A suicide waiting to happen.

I want a name. I want to know who added that little tidbit. Is it possible I overlooked that when I first looked at it previously, or was it added? Can you find that for us Liz?

I often feel it is sometimes better to take baby steps to get things done, but sometimes baby steps end up being the way to destroy something as well.

So, where do you think this bill puts us? Are we better off with it, or without it? Once lost, do you think Fentanyl can be added back somehow?

Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 19, 2008 at 10:51am

Hi Ellen,
I just read the whole thing hhhhhhh. But yes I like it. Especially the 5million going to research!

I just wanted to make sure something would not hurt us later on. I don't know if you know this but fentanyl was slipped into a bill and it said in fine print doctors can only give that for cancer patients. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT DRUGS AFFECT DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I personally can't take fentanyl BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT DEPEND ON IT EVERYDAY OR TO GET THEM OUT OF PAIN. We have tied the doctors hands behind their backs. THAT MAKES ME SICK! Now I do know some doctors who will prescribe it anyway, but still, no one should tell your doctor what is right for his patient(meaning YOU)!

I just wanted to make sure NOTHING LIKE THAT WAS IN THERE! I love the educating doctors. There are so many that need to get a clue with pain managment.

I think the bill is great....although 5 million will go fast when it comes to research! I know it sounds like a lot but it really isn't, AT LEAST IT IS A START!
I also love the public awarness, people need to understand what pain managment means!
All in All I love it. I just would never want something to be slipped in!!!! But I will contact my reps.
I hope you understand where I was coming from.....I would never want anything to hurt us without really knowing it would!
thank you so much for this AND TAKING THE TIME TO INFORM US!!!!
liz

Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 19, 2008 at 10:12am

Ellen,
I will read the whole thing. I just want to make sure politicians did not put in something sneaky.....as we all know politicians are not the most up standing people in the world. THA T IS WHY I SAY WITH EVERY BILL READ THE FINE PRINT. You do not want something in the fine print to hurt us!!!
Did you find anything wrong?
Liz

Comment by Ellen S on September 18, 2008 at 7:34pm

You might want to look at the actual bill, not the summary. That is the second link. I haven't had time, regretfully, tho I did skim it briefly. I know I was good with the original however. You know how they say you should always read every word of a contract before signing... same goes for pushing legislation. In this case, the groups leading the push are pretty careful about that from what I've seen, though thing get missed all the time.

Bottom line, read it. If you agree, pass it along to others and contact your Representative, even if you think you're barking up a tree. It takes 30 seconds, and could make a huge difference to someone... maybe even you!

Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 18, 2008 at 7:23pm

Hi Dianne and Ellen,
The reason I asked was because somethimes there are hidden things in a Bill and that is why they should be rejected. It usually is in the fine print. But I did see the bill and I just want to make sure there was nothing in there that would hurt us. Congress is great at that, they will put up a Bill that 'looks good' but in the fine print it is actually not good!
Politics.....it is so hard to get good things passed! Just wanted to add that.
Ellen thanks for putting this up, medical doctors DO NEED EDUCATION IN PAIN CONTROL. I have found that a lot of M.D.s do not have a clue on pain control.
thanks Ellen
liz

Comment by Ellen S on September 18, 2008 at 4:45pm

Liz and Dianne,

Egads! Got that link fixed. Worked last night... hmmm. Oh well. It's running now! Thanks so much for your help getting the word out...

Comment by Dianne Rees on September 18, 2008 at 4:17pm

It's a bill to address the barriers to proper pain management by improving pain care research, education, access to information and appropriate medical care. My understanding is that it will promote more fact-finding into how pain management is currently being handled by the health care system (ie, woefully inadequately) and will evaluate the best ways to improve the system. So there won't be immediate changes in health care policies coming out of the bill's passage, but there will be an important increase in awareness, research, and attention paid to patients' rights/needs.

Comment by Lisa Bratcher Carley on September 18, 2008 at 3:50pm

can you talk about the HR 2994 Bill and what it says...the link is broken?