February 28, 2019
Many of our members are hospice medical directors, so we feel this is an important bill.
The MAFP is in favor of
House Bill 1460
, which would allow hospice medical directors to prescribe controlled substances for pain for terminally ill patients without a face-to-face visit.
The regulation that was established is not the standard of care for hospice patients, so this bill is needed.
This bill is in danger of dying in the Senate Public Health Committee. Please call members of Senate Public Health to ask them to encourage Sen. Dean Kirby, the Chair, to bring up the bill.
Talking Points:
- without passage of this bill, hospice patients will suffer, which is cruel and unconscionable
- it would simply be impossible for doctors to go into the homes of every hospice patient every time they need a prescription - that is why it is 'team-based' care
- if the bill dies, doctors will stop seeing hospice patients because the regulation makes practicing medicine impossible
- face-to-face visits do not alleviate law enforcement concerns of diversion
ACTION: Ask Chairman Kirby to bring the bill up for a vote. Vote YES on HB 1460.
Please also call Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves about the importance of this bill. His office number is (601) 359-3200.
Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee & Mobile Numbers
Sen. Dean Kirby, Pearl, Chair, 601-842-5968
Sen. Brice Wiggins, Pascagoula, Vice-Chair, 228-324-3141
Sen. David Blount, Jackson, 601-260-8931
Sen. Hob Bryan, Amory, 662-315-8862
Sen. Terry C. Burton, Newton - do not call
Sen. Chris Caughman, Mendenhall, 601-382-0816
Sen. Bob M. Dearing, Natchez, 601-807-2431
Sen. Sally Doty, Brookhaven, 601-757-7446
Sen. Joey Fillingane, Sumrall, 601-271-2070
Sen. Hillman Terome Frazier, Jackson
Sen. Josh Harkins, Flowood, 601-209-8448
Sen. W. Briggs Hopson III, Vicksburg, 601-831-6565
Sen. John Horhn, Jackson, 601-622-5707
Sen. Gary Jackson, French Camp, 662-417-2557
Sen. David Parker, Olive Branch, 901-573-9760
Sen. Rita Potts Parks, Corinth, 901-603-2469
Sen. Willie Simmons, Cleveland, 662-402-1662
Sen. Gray Tollison, Oxford, 662-832-7071
Sen. Chuck Younger, Columbus, 662-251-3432
You can also call the Mississippi Capitol Switchboard at (601) 359-3770 and ask to leave a message.
