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In this issue: U.S. Pain launches support groups training program | Points for Pain raises nearly $9,000 in three games | Attend Take Control of Your Pain on April 2 | Take action on CMS proposal that may harm patients | Non-medical switching bills introduced in three states | and more!
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Awareness, Education, & Support
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U.S. Pain launches support group training program
On Feb. 25 and 26, U.S. Pain Foundation and Pain Connection held "Training of Chronic Pain Support Group Leaders: A 21st Century Model for Chronic Pain" in Tucson, AZ
. Read more.
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Points for Pain raises nearly $9,000 in 2017
Tyler Cashman, U.S. Pain director of pediatric awareness and fundraising, has raised nearly $9,000 this year through three Points for Pain basketball games. For his efforts, on Jan. 31, Cashman was recognized by the state of New Jersey.
Read more.
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Attend Take Control of Your Pain on April 2
On April 2, U.S. Pain Foundation and the New York State Pain Society will host a Take Control of Your Pain event in West Harrison, NY. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Read more.
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Volunteers advocate for rare diseases, headaches
Multiple pain warriors represented U.S. Pain during two important events in February: Rare Disease Day on Feb. 28 and Headache on the Hill on Feb. 13 and 14.
Read more.
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Celebrating U.S. Pain's 2016 achievements
As the nation's leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to those living in pain and their families, 2016 was a year of continued growth for the U.S. Pain Foundation. A new infographic celebrates the successes made possible by pain warriors.
Read more.
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Take action today on CMS proposal that may harm pain patients
U.S. Pain urges the pain community to email CMS by Friday, March 3, to ask them to reconsider several proposed changes that could harm people living with chronic pain.
Read more.
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VA restricts pain medicine for veterans and military
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense recently released new medication guidelines for chronic pain that are even more stringent than those released last year by the CDC.
Read more.
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200 patient groups send letter to HHS Secretary
U.S. Pain was one of 200 patient organizations to sign a letter to U.S. Human and Health Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price asking him to maintain and enforce critical patient protections and medication access when making changes to the Affordable Care Act.
Read more.
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Non-medical switching bills announced in three more states
U.S. Pain is leading coalitions in three states that introduced bills to prohibit non-medical switching last month
- Tennessee, Illinois and Connecticut - and promoting awareness about the topic in national news and events.
Read more.
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Biosimilars legislation sweeps all the way to Alaska
The 2017 legislative session has seen 13 states introduce legislation pertaining to biosimilar products, including Alaska, where two U.S. Pain ambassador-advocates recently testified at a hearing.
Read more.
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Pain Warriors of the Month:
Shawn and Laurie Dickens
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Pain warrior role: Dedicated caregivers for their daughter, U.S. Pain ambassador Melanie, who lives with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, and volunteers on behalf of the pain community since 2010.
Fun fact:
The Dickens family loves Disney.
Favorite tip: "For other parents:
1. Always trust your child and trust your gut. 2. Keep it light... lots of humor! Laughter is medicine!"
Many members of the U.S. Pain community know the incredible Melanie Dickens, the young woman behind the Crazy Sock Walk & Day fundraisers. But they may not know her equally amazing parents, Laurie and Shawn, who take an active role in advocating on behalf of Melanie and all people living with pain. Laurie and Shawn help Melanie coordinate the Crazy Sock events each year and are always ready to step up to help when U.S. Pain puts out a call-to-action.
If you'd like to nominate a Pain Warrior of the Month, contact [email protected]. Pain warriors can be anyone who supports the pain community, whether patients, caregivers, clinicians, donors or policymakers.
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Upcoming Events
- March 17 & 18: American Academy of Pain Medicine conference
- April 2: Take Control of Your Pain free event
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