SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 72

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1997

 

      The Senate Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72 (1R).

      This concurrent resolution creates a 14-member "New Jersey Legislative Commission for the Study of Pain Management Policy." The purpose of the commission is to study laws and practices relating to acute and chronic pain management therapies provided by health care providers. The commission is directed to study and prepare a report on the following issues: acute and chronic pain management treatment practices by health care providers in New Jersey; State and federal statutes and regulations relating to pain management therapies, including, but not limited to, drug dispensing practices, use of opioids and nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the sanction and use of "alternative" therapies such as biofeedback, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and massage; acute and chronic pain management education provided by the State's medical schools; the acute and chronic pain management needs of both adults and children; and such other issues relating to pain management as the commission deems appropriate.

      The members of the bipartisan commission will include two members of the Senate, who will be appointed by the President of the Senate, and two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The 10 public members would include one anesthesiologist, one oncologist, one patient advocate, one member of the faculty of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who shall be a physician with experience in pain management, and one registered professional nurse, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and one physician specializing in physical medicine, one pharmacist, one primary care physician with experience in pain management, one physician specializing in pain management, and one attorney with expertise in health care law, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. All public members who are medical professionals shall be duly licensed to practice in this State. At lease one of the public members shall be a current member of the "American Cancer Society Pain Initiative."

      The commission is directed to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature 10 months from the date of the commission's organization.

      This resolution is identical to SCR 107 (Sinagra), which the committee also reported favorably on this date.