Advocacy for Those With Head Pain
Articles Index
The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003
The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003, which has been introduced in the House of Representatives, would mandate many actions essential to ensuring proper treatment for people in pain. Please help us get it passed!
Is Your Pain Being Properly Assessed and Managed?
JCAHO established standards for pain management that went into effect January 1, 2001. JCAHO is the predominant health care standards-setting and accrediting organization in the U.S. For hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, health care networks, behavioral health care providers, and some other health care providers, JCAHO accreditation is key for Medicare certification, liability insurance, managed care contracts, state licensure requirements, and community confidence.
OxyContin: News and Thoughts
OxyContin is back in the news, and some would limit its availability, even for those in pain. For a time, you couldn't watch the news or visit a news website without hearing or reading something about the issues associated with OxyContin® and it's abuse. For awhile it seemed to have lost it's charm in the media -- temporarily. Recently, it's back in the news, and the news is mixed for legitimate patients with chronic pain.
MAGNUM Joins Push for National Pain Care Policy Act
On Tuesday, April 29, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) introduced H.R. 1863, the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2003 in the House of Representatives. According to the American Pain Foundation (APF), "…this bill is an exceptional step toward gaining federal recognition of the importance of pain as a critical and unanswered health care problem in our nation." MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association has joined the push for passage of this Act.
Lifting the Burden of Headache Disorders
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide carry the burden of impaired health, disrupted lives and lost opportunities due to the disabling nature of headache disorders. This burden was highlighted on March 26 in Copenhagen when the World Health Organization announced, in partnership with three major international non-governmental organizations, the launch of their global campaign to reduce the burden of headache worldwide, Lifting the Burden.
Insurance and Your Doctor Disagree. Can You Sue?
Two primary issues led to the U.S. Supreme Court's agreeing hear the appeal of two related cases and determine whether patients can sue HMOs for malpractice or other torts in a state court when they refuse to pay for the care recommended by a doctor. The issues were Aetna's refusal to pay for an expensive medication and Cigna's refusal to cover a longer hospital stay than their rules allowed. Can we say, "That sounds familiar?"
Lifting the Global Burden of Head Pain
At the XI Congress of the International Headache Society (IHS) in Rome, India’s Dr. K. Ravishankar spoke of the increased burden of headache and Migraine in developing regions such as India, Africa, Asia, and China and urged the delegates to consider those regions through the collaborative Lifting the Burden Campaign.
Cluster Headache and Migraine Forms for Better ER Care.
Many of us have experienced problems in getting adequate and respectful care in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities. Hopefully, these forms will help establish our diagnosis and provide other information that will make these visits less unpleasant and more helpful.
When You Can't Afford Medical Care . . .
We all know how very difficult it is to get medical care and medications for our headaches and Migraines without insurance coverage. Lately, the number of forum posts and messages about this in my email and our "Ask the Clinician" questions have been increasing dramatically. While I certainly don't have great answers for this problem, here are some avenues to investigate.
Writing As Therapy, Pain Into Poetry
Writing is a great release from pain for many people. Over the last few years, our readers have submitted some wonderful poetry about their headaches and their Migraines. National Poetry Month is the perfect time to go back and take a look at their creative works.
NHF Honors Teri Robert and Others At Annual Event.
The National Headache Foundation (NHF) will present its prestigious Patient Partners Award to Teri Robert, Journalist and Patient Advocate, About, Inc. Division of Primedia, Inc. at its eighteenth annual fund raising benefit on Saturday, April 17, 2004 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. The Patient Partners award is in recognition of Teri's educational efforts and tireless advocacy on behalf of sufferers of headache and migraine.
Is Your Insurance Company Limiting Access To Triptans?
To date, over 1,000 people have completed our form to report insurance limiting access to triptans. I've worked with some of those Migraineurs, and was able to get them the triptans they need. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to be able to do that for everyone who is having this problem. Since this is such a tremendously serious problem, I've been reviewing the information we've received so far to see what you can do on your own to get the triptans you need.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Basics
Chronic headaches and Migraines, as well as other health conditions, can cause us to miss work, thus creating problems with our employment and employers. As this is a topic of great concern to so many of us, let's take a look at the United States Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).
Buying Meds Online: Buyer Beware!
Online pharmacies are springing up all over the Internet. Our email is bombarded with spam from these sites offering to sell brand name drugs without prescriptions. When in pain, the temptation to order from these sites can be strong, but these sites can be very dangerous. There is no way of knowing what you'll get and taking meds without a prescription can be hazardous.
Let's Get Montel's Attention!
Today, I'm asking every person who reads this to send one email and send me a copy of it. Just one email. Why? Because several chronic pain groups have gotten together and formed a plan. We believe that if one talk show hosts receives enough emails in a concentrated period of time, it will have a very strong impact. That concentrated period of time is December 9, 10, and 11. I'm asking you to write to Montel Williams.
Hospital Care Quality Differs Markedly by State.
The quality of care at the nation's hospitals varies substantially from state to state, according to the sixth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, released on September 22. Results of the study, which rates each of the nation's nearly 5,000 hospitals in 26 procedures and diagnoses, were made available on HealthGrades.com to assist individuals in finding high-quality hospitals in their local areas.
Teen Expelled for Advil At School
Amanda Stiles, a sophomore at Parkway High in Shreveport, Louisiana, never gave a second thought to carrying Advil in her purse for her frequent headaches. At least she didn't until a few days ago when she was expelled from school for one year when the Advil was discovered in her purse by a teacher.
OxyContin®: What's the REAL Issue?
Through all the controversy surrounding OxyContin® abuse, a group of people have been watching with apprehension and fear, afraid their needs and rights are going to be lost in the frenzy. They're chronic pain patients, some of them suffering from migraine or other headache disorders,people whose lives are made bearable only by this time-release pain reliever . . . people who might literally commit suicide if the relief of OxyContin® were not available to them.
Are Frivolous Lawsuits Driving Up Healthcare Costs?
Are Frivolous Lawsuits Driving Up Healthcare Costs? A new A new nonprofit organization, "Lawsuit Abuse Makes Us Sick," says they are and invites all to their Million Email March on Washington, D.C. A senior counselor for the group, Dr. Elizabeth Connell wants Americans to know how frivolous lawsuits threaten our healthcare system by driving up costs, jeopardizing medical innovation, limiting access to healthcare and making doctors afraid to practice medicine.
Patient-Focused Care Pledge Adopted
The American College of Chest Physicians has adopted a revolutionary Patient-Focused Care Pledge as the foundation for an initiative specifically designed to develop interdisciplinary models of patient-focused care for use in hospitals, health-care systems, and health-care education programs around the country. It is hoped that other medical specialty organizations will follow their lead.