Thread by @JillPiggott

⭐️ HUGE⭐️ victory for people with #ChronicPain in #NewHampshire AND their doctors. New bill protects the right of #pain patients to #opioid medicines AND protects the doctors who prescribe them.

Bill is MODEL legislation for other states. /thread painnewsnetwork.org/stories/tag/Ne…

New NH law: If people "on a managed and monitored regimen of #opioid analgesic treatment" have "increased functionality and quality of life as a result of said treatment," the "treatment shall be continued if there remains no indication of misuse or diversion.”

Under the new law, "physicians & pharmacists are required to consider the 'individualized needs' of #pain patients, treat them with dignity, & ensure that they are 'not unduly denied the medications needed to treat their conditions,'" including (specifically) #opioids.

All treatment decisions must be made "by the treating practitioner, who is required to treat chronic pain 'without fear of reprimand or discipline.'"

Doctors may exceed #opioid MME limits if dose is "lowest amount necessary to control pain" & there's no sign of abuse.

New NH law defines #ChronicPain as "any pain that is intractable, high impact, episodic or relapsing."

Bill also allows people from outside NH to seek treatment there. If accompanied by written documentation, the #pain diagnosis can be made by any US physician.

Retired #pain management specialist Dr. Forest Tennant: “This innovative new law is historic in that it states that controlled substances, including #opioids, can't be pre-determined by specific morphine milligram equivalents."

“The law specifically states that patients can't be unduly denied the medications needed to treat their conditions. This point can't be over-emphasized," retired pain-management expert Dr. Forest Tennant told @PainNewsNetwork.

"The law is the result of two years of lobbying by a small group of patient advocates known as the New Hampshire Pain Collaborative, which worked closely with state Sens. John Reagan and Tom Sherman in drafting the legislation."

They got it into a health omnibus!

Anyone know anybody in the NH Pain Collaborative? We need to hold a Virtual #Tickertape Parade in their honor.

Here's the omnibus. A control-F search for #opioid gets you to the relevant sections. static1.squarespace.com/static/54d50ce…

🔵 EASY ACTIVISM! Click this link, type in your address, & get the email addresses for your Gov & state legislators.

Add a 1st paragraph about why this matters to you, then copy/paste the @PainNewsNetwork article at the top of this thread.
usa.gov/elected-offici…

If you email this to your state legislator, add a reply below. Surely we can get this to a dozen different legislators. If you feel too lousy to write a 1st paragraph, just say "This would really help me."

C'mon, #TeamPain! WE CAN CLICK! WE CAN COPY-PASTE! YES WE CAN!

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@NitaGhei @speakingabtpain @StefanKertesz @LelenaPeacock @hope411adcock @tal7291 @PROPkills @JSG_54 This is a real wow. @headsUPmigraine