Current Initiatives

The Policy Council’s primary goal is to advance pain management in the Commonwealth through public policy. We accomplish that by:

  • Educating lawmakers on pain management issues
  • Helping to advance legislation that will result in improvements in pain care
  • Identifying legislative opportunities for and barriers to improving pain care and taking action on them
  • Providing advice on pain management issues to public health officials
  • Working with like-minded organizations to accomplish these goals

Senate Bill 863 and House Bill 1134 - An Act to Improve Access and Care Coordination for People with Pain

This bill will improve pain care for MA residents on MassHealth by providing assistance navigating insurance coverage for pain treatments access to specialized providers, better access to new non-opioid medications, education of pain management for PCP’s and more. It will also improve data collection and reporting on chronic pain in the Commonwealth.

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Sponsors:
Representative Marjorie Decker
Senator Dylan Fernandes

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Pain Awareness Event

We had a fantastic Pain Awareness Event at the State House highlighting chronic pain and its impact on patients and healthcare providers, as well as highlighting our bill. Both of our bill sponsors spoke - Sen Fernandes and Rep Decker as well as Policy Council Chair Cindy Steinberg and Policy Council members – Jackie Nathan, Becca West and Jane Liberman.

We want to say a HUGE thank you to Representative Marjorie Decker, Senator Dylan Fernandes, Jackie Nathan, Becca West and Jane Liberman for coming and giving a terrific speech!