medication in a timely manner.
We were successful in 2016 and
SB 341 with patient protections
was passed. This particular bill only
applied to Kansas Medicaid recipients.
But it passed.
After the passage of this bill we
learned from my husband’s Neurologist
that during his wait for
medication he developed two new
lesions on his spinal cord that were
not there in December 2015 when
he was diagnosed. He is in a wheel
chair as a result. Since he has started
his Tysabri infusion therapies
he has not developed any new lesions
to this day in 2019.
The point of my sharing this is the
importance of sharing personal stories
and informing your legislators
of what it is really like for their
constituents. You do not have to go
to your state capital and testify before
a Senate committee in order to
advocate. You can simply pick up
the phone and call your legislator
when there is a vote or an issue
coming up that is important to you.
You can even write letters or send
emails to your representatives. All
of their contact information is public
information on your States website.
Here at iPain we frequently forward
information where personal
stories are being requested for
news articles and or testimony. As
we say at iPain; “have the nerve to
be heard.” Change does not happen
if we all sit back and wait for
someone else to do it. Change happens
when we take action.
For more information on how you
can participate in advocacy go to
www.internationalpain.org. This
website is continuously updated
with education, awareness, and
events.
Gayle M Taylor-Ford, LSCSW,
LCAC, Executive Director/ Owner,
Therapy Services LLC, Board
Member/ Secretary, International
Pain Foundation, and KS GRAC
Committee Member, National MS
Society.
What is Public Policy
Advocacy?
Advocacy encompasses a wide
range of activities that influence
decision makers. Advocacy includes
traditional activities such as
litigation, lobbying, and public education.
It can also include capacity
building, relationship building,
forming networks, and leadership
development. Lobbying refers to
activities that are intended to influence
a specific piece of legislation.
(Connued from page 29)
(Connued on page 32)
32—iPain Living Magazine
/www.internationalpain.org