On Dec. 19, Cindy Steinberg, U.S. Pain’s National Director of Policy and Advocacy, testified at the Massachusetts State House in support of a bill to require pain be assessed and managed in all types of healthcare facilities statewide.

Steinberg was one of three patients who testified, along with two pain clinicians. The bill, “An Act Requiring Pain Assessment and Management in Healthcare Facilities,” (House Bill 1181 and Senate Bill 1183) was authored as a collaboration between U.S. Pain Foundation and the Massachusetts Pain Initiative. It is being sponsored by Rep. Jay Kaufman and Sen. Julian Cyr.

“The Joint Commission, which accredits health care institutions, does include this right, but it does not cover all health care facilities, like long-term care facilities and surgical centers,” says Steinberg. “We believe pain assessment and management in any health care setting should be a basic right for everyone.”

Steinberg encourages Massachusetts residents to reach out to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health, Rep. Kate Hogan and Sen. Lewis, as well as committee members, and ask them to report the bill favorably out of committee.

To learn more about U.S. Pain’s advocacy priorities, click here.