INvisible Project 2010
By Nicole Hemmenway

Kentucky: HR 56
HR 56 urges public health and healthcare professionals and entities to take an active role in raising awareness and educating Kentucky citizens about Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. HR 56 passed the KY House Heath & Welfare Committee on February 17, 2010.

Ohio: Testimony in support of SB 216

Pass an Awareness and Education Act in Your State

Although we are making progress in creating awareness of pain in general, and specifically CRPS, there is still much to do.

These bills were the result of action and commitment on the part of an individual or a support group. We encourage all of you to consider working to have a similar bill passed in your state.

For a Template you can use for establishing a CRPS Education and Research Bill in your state, please click here.

Delaware
Illinois
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Oregon

Is an Awareness Bill the Same as a Proclamation?

Although a proclamation does get CRPS mentioned in the state legislature, there is limited action afterward. Proclamations "recognize" CRPS and may proclaim one day of awareness, but this short-lived attention does not guarantee any media coverage or other awareness initiatives.

An awareness and education bill generally contains a call to action, such as producing brochures to educate consumers or creating materials for healthcare professionals. Here, the RSDSA can help by offering our materials to the state's suggested recipients.

How to get an Awareness Bill in your legislature
By Idamarie Scimeca Duffy

Make an appointment with your local state Senator. Give him or her a copy of the Delaware Bill and impress upon him that their state should follow the lead of Delaware so that the medical community becomes more aware of this insidious disease.

Once the Senator understands how important Awareness is, ask him or her to intercede with the chairman of the State Health & Human Services Committee. He/she will probably insist on your appearing before the committee (as I did) so be prepared to discuss "the Bill" and the positive effect it can have on so many of the state's citizens (voters)! If the Committee passes a Resolution it goes to the full Senate for a vote. If it passes the Senate, you must then get your Local State House of Representatives Member involved. This is easy since you already have an approved Senate version; but the same steps must be taken in the House as in the Senate, as explained earlier.

Once the House approves the Bill, then the Senator gets the Bill on the Governor's Signing Agenda. Even though our Senator (Amick) is a Republican, he had no problem with Governor (Minner), a Democrat, since our House and Senate Bills passed unanimously with no negative votes at all. Health & Human Services (HHS) then spreads the word to all State Licensed Medical Practitioners. (Thus, no additional funds are required because the cost of this comes out of the HHS budget.)

Updated January 31, 2011