PRINTER'S NO. 1249
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 148 Session of
2009
INTRODUCED BY WONDERLING, JULY 1, 2009
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JULY 1, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2009 as "Women in Pain
Awareness Month" to recognize the need to raise awareness
concerning gender disparity in pain assessment and treatment.
WHEREAS, Research indicates that differences in men and women
exist in the experience of pain, with women generally
experiencing more recurrent pain, more severe pain and longerlasting
pain than men; and
WHEREAS, Women have a higher prevalence of chronic pain
syndromes and diseases associated with chronic pain, such as
fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and osteoarthritis,
than men; and
WHEREAS, Although women and men both have strong natural
pain-killing systems, these systems operate differently as the
presence of estrogen lowers an individual's threshold for pain
while testosterone elevates an individual's tolerance for pain;
and
WHEREAS, A 2001 study in the Journal of Law, Medicine, and
Ethics found that women's pain reports are taken less seriously
than men's, and women receive less aggressive treatment than men
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for their pain; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Institutes of Health, pain
is the most common reason Americans access the health care
system and more than 76.5 million Americans suffer from pain,
both chronic and acute, which increases health care costs,
estimated at $100 billion annually in health care expenses, lost
income and lost productivity; and
WHEREAS, Because women respond differently than men to many
pain medications and tend to receive less aggressive treatment,
their pain is often more all-encompassing and the level of
disability greater; and
WHEREAS, The difference in the treatment of women in pain, as
compared to that of men, is more than a personal or gender
issue; it is a societal issue; and
WHEREAS, For Grace was founded in 2002 to increase awareness
of the gender disparity women experience worldwide in the
assessment and treatment of their pain; and
WHEREAS, For Grace, along with People With Pain
International, believes empowering women to be better consumers
for their pain management care, sensitizing health care
professionals to gender pain disparities and enlightening public
policymakers about pain as a major health issue will improve
life outcomes for all women in pain; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
2009 as "Women in Pain Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate draw public attention to the
important need for women to have their pain managed effectively
and without bias through self-empowerment, public awareness,
health care professional education and legislative advocacy.
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PRINTER'S NO. 625
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 37 Session of
2009
INTRODUCED BY BROWNE, BAKER, STOUT, FERLO, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA,
KITCHEN, LOGAN, KASUNIC, MUSTO, O'PAKE, COSTA, PIPPY AND
WONDERLING, MARCH 6, 2009
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 6, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to create a Pain
Task Force and a Pain Task Force Advisory Committee to
promote professional and public education and awareness and
to improve the quality of care for the citizens of this
Commonwealth who are suffering from pain.
WHEREAS, Pain can be classified as follows:
(1) acute pain, such as the pain following injury, acute
medical illness or surgery;
(2) chronic pain, such as chronic low back pain,
fibromyalgia, headache or chronic illness, such as lupus or
multiple sclerosis;
(3) cancer-related pain, including pain associated with
cancer and its treatment;
(4) pain in patients with life-limiting illness;
and
WHEREAS, Unrelieved acute pain increases suffering, can slow
recovery and is associated with an increased risk of
complications including death; and
WHEREAS, Unrelieved acute pain is common, with up to 40% of
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postoperative patients reporting inadequate pain relief; and
WHEREAS, Fifteen to 25% of community-based adults suffer from
chronic pain at any given time, a figure that increases to 50%
in adults over 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Chronic pain is associated with significant
suffering, including compromise of physical and psychosocial
functioning, such as depression and anxiety; and
WHEREAS, Chronic pain leads to lost or compromised workdays
that equate to an estimated $50 billion to $70 billion in lost
workdays in the United States per year; and
WHEREAS, Up to 70% of people with cancer suffer from pain
caused by their disease or its treatment; and
WHEREAS, People with advanced cancer describe their pain as
moderate to severe 40% to 50% of the time and very severe 25% to
30% of the time; and
WHEREAS, There are now several published clinical practice
guidelines regarding the diagnosis and treatment of acute,
chronic, cancer-related pain and pain associated with
life-limiting illness, and the United States Congress declared
2001-2010 as the "Decade of Pain Control and Research"; and
WHEREAS, In spite of the availability of published treatment
guidelines, many citizens of this Commonwealth continue to
suffer from poorly controlled pain due to a variety of reasons;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to
create a Pain Task Force consisting of two members appointed by
the President pro tempore of the Senate, two members appointed
by the Minority Leader of the Senate, two members appointed by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two members
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appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force create a Pain Task Force
Advisory Committee to assist in accomplishing each of its
responsibilities. The Pain Task Force Advisory Committee shall
consist of 25 members who are individuals with knowledge and
expertise regarding pain research, prevention, treatment,
educational programs and consumer needs, to guide program
development; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee be composed of one
representative from and designated by the following:
(1) Department of Health.
(2) Office of the Attorney General.
(3) Pennsylvania Medical Society.
(4) Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians.
(5) American College of Physicians.
(6) Pennsylvania Society for Oncology and Hematology.
(7) Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners.
(8) Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc.
(9) American Society for Pain Management Nursing.
(10) Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.
(11) Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society.
(12) American Cancer Society.
(13) Pennsylvania Cancer Pain Initiative.
(14) Arthritis Foundation.
(15) Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania.
(16) National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
(17) American Pain Society.
(18) American Pain Foundation.
(19) Pennsylvania Homecare Association.
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(20) Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and the
Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania.
(21) Association for Professional Acupuncture.
(22) Pennsylvania Pain Coalition.
(23) The Pennsylvania rehabilitation industry;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That two members of the committee be chosen by the
coordinated designation of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industries; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force present to the General
Assembly a report evaluating the barriers to good pain care in
this Commonwealth, making suggestions for actions to improve
pain care within this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force study the feasibility of
developing and implementing a comprehensive Statewide public
education program on pain management to:
(1) promote public awareness regarding proper pain
management;
(2) promote understanding of the importance of early
diagnosis and proper treatment and management;
(3) improve the delivery of appropriate information,
programs, services and access to the most effective
treatments for pain; and
(4) encourage research into the nature, cause and
treatment of pain;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force, in accomplishing its
missions, take into account guidelines that have been
promulgated by nationally recognized organizations that deal
with pain; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force recommend an appropriate
means of disseminating information to the professional community
and the general public; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force recommend sources of funds
to carry out its recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Pain Task Force report its findings
directly to the General Assembly no later than one year after
the adoption of this resolution.
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PRINTER'S NO. 3540
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 745 Session of
2010
INTRODUCED BY MANN, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP,
BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN,
CONKLIN, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO,
DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL,
FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM,
HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KESSLER, KILLION,
KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MARKOSEK,
MARSICO, McCALL, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MICOZZIE,
MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MUNDY, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN,
O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE,
QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS,
SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY,
SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH,
WATSON AND M. KELLER, APRIL 19, 2010
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL
19, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2010 as "Arthritis Awareness Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases
that cause pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and
connective tissue throughout the body, the most prevalent forms
of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid
arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 46 million Americans, representing one in
five adults, have arthritis and nearly two-thirds of those
people are women; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health
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problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis costs the United States economy $86.2
billion per year in medical care and lost wages; and
WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known
for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that
can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life;
and
WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early
diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each
individual; and
WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of
medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint
protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May
2010 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge
residents of this Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of
this disease and to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its
impact on their lives.
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PRINTER'S NO. 1816
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 306 Session of
2009
INTRODUCED BY MANN, BAKER, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BRADFORD,
BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO,
DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN,
GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HELM,
HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI,
McCALL, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL,
PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN,
READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO,
SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, SWANGER, VEREB, WALKO AND WHITE,
MAY 8, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 8,
2009
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2009 as "Arthritis Awareness Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases
that cause pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and
connective tissue throughout the body, the most prevalent forms
of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid
arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 46 million Americans, representing one in
five adults, have arthritis and nearly two-thirds of those
people are women; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health
problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in
the United States; and
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WHEREAS, Arthritis costs the United States economy $86.2
billion per year in medical care and lost wages; and
WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known
for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that
can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life;
and
WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early
diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each
individual; and
WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of
medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint
protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May
2009 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge
residents of this Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of
this disease and to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its
impact on their lives.
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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 845 PRINTER'S NO. 1283
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 123 Session of
2009
INTRODUCED BY MANN, SOLOBAY, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRENNAN,
CREIGHTON, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARRIS,
KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PHILLIPS,
READSHAW, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH, WHEATLEY, HENNESSEY,
KORTZ, MURT, YOUNGBLOOD AND SEIP, MARCH 6, 2009
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 25, 2009
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to create a pain
task force and a pain task force advisory committee to
promote professional and public education and awareness and
to improve the quality of care for the residents of this
Commonwealth who are suffering from pain.
WHEREAS, Pain can be classified as acute pain, such as pain
following injury, acute medical illness or surgery, chronic
pain, including, but not limited to, chronic low-back pain,
fibromyalgia, headache and chronic illness, such as lupus or
multiple sclerosis, cancer-related pain and pain in patients
with life-limiting illness; and
WHEREAS, Unrelieved acute pain increases suffering, can slow
recovery and is associated with an increased risk of
complications, including death; and
WHEREAS, Unrelieved acute pain is common, with up to 40% of
postoperative patients reporting inadequate pain relief; and
WHEREAS, As many as 15% to 25% of adults outside of hospitals
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and other medical settings suffer from chronic pain at any given
time, a figure that increases to 50% in adults 65 years of age
and older; and
WHEREAS, Chronic pain is associated with significant
suffering, including compromise of physical and psychosocial
functioning, such as depression and anxiety; and
WHEREAS, Chronic pain leads to lost or compromised workdays
that equate to an estimated $50 to $70 billion in the United
States per year; and
WHEREAS, Up to 70% of people who have cancer suffer from pain
caused by the disease or its treatment; and
WHEREAS, People who have advanced cancer describe their pain
as moderate to severe 40% to 50% of the time and as very severe
25% to 30% of the time; and
WHEREAS, There are now several published clinical practice
guidelines regarding the diagnosis and treatment of acute,
chronic and cancer-related pain and pain associated with lifelimiting
illness, and the Congress of the United States declared
2001-2010 as the "Decade of Pain Control and Research"; and
WHEREAS, In spite of the availability of published treatment
guidelines, many residents of this Commonwealth continue to
suffer from poorly controlled pain due to a variety of reasons;
therefore be it
RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
direct the Joint State Government Commission to create a pain
task force consisting of two members appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate, two members appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives and two members appointed by the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
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further
RESOLVED, That the task force create an advisory committee
to assist in accomplishing its responsibilities and consisting
of members with knowledge and expertise regarding pain research,
prevention, treatment, educational programs and consumer needs;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee be composed of one
representative from and designated by the Department of Health,
the Office of Attorney General, the Pennsylvania Medical
Society, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, the
American College of Physicians, the Pennsylvania Society of
Oncology and Hematology, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse
Practitioners, the Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists,
Inc., the American Society for Pain Management Nursing, the
Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, the Pennsylvania
Psychiatric Society, the American Cancer Society, the
Pennsylvania Cancer Pain Initiative, the Arthritis Foundation,
The Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, the American Pain Society, the American Pain
Foundation, the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, THE HOSPITAL
AND HEALTHSYSTEM ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE PENNSYLVANIA
HOSPICE NETWORK, the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association or
the Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania, the Association for
Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Pain
Coalition, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION, ONE
REPRESENTATIVE THAT IS A PHARMACIST LICENSED BY THE STATE BOARD
OF PHARMACY TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY IN THIS
COMMONWEALTH, one representative of the Pennsylvania
rehabilitation industry and two representatives of the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the task force present to the General Assembly
a report evaluating the barriers to good pain care in this
Commonwealth and make suggestions for actions to improve pain
care within this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force study the feasibility of
developing and implementing a comprehensive Statewide public
education program on pain management to:
(1) Promote public awareness regarding proper pain
management.
(2) Promote understanding of the importance of early
diagnosis and proper treatment and management.
(3) Improve the delivery of appropriate information,
programs and services and access to the most effective
treatments for pain.
(4) Encourage research into the nature, cause and
treatment of pain;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force, in accomplishing its missions,
take into account guidelines that have been promulgated by
nationally recognized organizations that deal with pain; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the task force recommend an appropriate means
of disseminating information to the professional community and
the general public; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force recommend sources of funds to
carry out its recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings directly to
the General Assembly no later than one year after the adoption
of this resolution.
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