Illinois Senate Clears ISMS-Backed Bill to Support Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain

November 22, 2024

Earlier this week, the Illinois Senate passed ISMS-backed House Bill 5373 to help patients suffering from chronic pain to secure treatment as prescribed by their physician. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which will go back to the House for concurrence. We expect it will pass the House in January during the General Assembly’s lame duck session.

Too many physicians have become reluctant to prescribe opioid treatments to patients suffering from 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 restrict the prescription of Schedule II opioids.

Many prescribers fear that regulators and law enforcement would consider them to be “pill pushers” and not understand that 2016 CDC guidelines supporting rigid application of opioid dosage thresholds are now outdated.

Every patient is different. Pain treatment should be tailored to the needs of the individual. 

The Prescription Monitoring Program

House Bill 5373 also seeks to 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).

ISMS will keep you informed about any developments concerning this legislation.