Governor Signs ISMS-Backed Bill for Treating Chronic Pain into Law!

February 18, 2025

Last Friday Governor Pritzker signed ISMS-backed House Bill 5373 into law to help patients who are suffering from chronic pain to be able to secure treatment as prescribed by their physician.

This new law is a win for physicians and patients as too many doctors have become understandably reluctant to prescribe opioid treatments to patients experiencing chronic pain out of fear of being criminalized or having their license suspended or revoked. In 2016, states, including Illinois, began implementing policies that severely restricted the prescription of Schedule II opioids.

Every patient is different, and pain treatment should be tailored to the needs of the individual.

House Bill 5373 will also further safeguard the purpose of Illinois’ Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) as a clinical tool by stipulating that any data held within the PMP must only be supplied to law enforcement pursuant to an active investigation (a court order or subpoena).

Questions? Please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email