February 27, 2008
A bill just submitted to the Missouri General Assembly calls for a state Fibromyalgia awareness and outreach campaign, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.* The bill (House Bill 2243) is sponsored by Rep. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls of Kansas City (MO), whose mother suffers from Fibromyalgia.
Specifically, the bill would require the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to appoint, convene, and support a voluntary Fibromyalgia Panel with the knowledge and expertise to guide program development. The panel, in turn would be required to:
1. Raise “at least $50,000” through private funding to mount a state FM education and outreach campaign, targeting needs such as early diagnosis & treatment and improved quality of life, and in consultation with the National Fibromyalgia Association.
2. Work with other agencies at the state and local levels to promote delivery of Fibromyalgia education and training to doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Additionally, the bill would allow a prescribing healthcare provider to override restrictions on medications for treatment of FM imposed by pharmacy benefit managers – in carefully defined circumstances and “to the extent that the Panel obtains private funding for the purpose.”
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* “Bill designed to help Fibromyalgia sufferers,” posted February 27, 2008 on www.KansasCity.com by Julius A. Karash (jkarash@kcstar.com).
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