S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1671

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE -- read once and referred to
  the Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation
  to chronic pain management

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  intent:  The  legislature  hereby finds that
medical treatment of chronic pain in this state needs to  be  reexamined
to  enhance  the  ability  to  assess such condition, increase access to
appropriate care to treat and mitigate chronic  pain,  and  improve  the
quality  of  life  for  those  afflicted  with this condition. Currently
chronic pain is most often treated by primary  care  providers  who  may
have  little  training in the assessment and proper treatment of complex
chronic pain conditions. This, in turn,  has  led,  in  certain  circum-
stances,  to  patients seeing multiple health care providers and experi-
encing multiple and repeated diagnostic tests, that lead  to  inadequate
or  unproven  surgeries, prescription of unneeded or strong pain medica-
tions, with its consequential heightened possibility to lead to the long
term addiction to such strong pain medications, and the  performance  of
procedures or treatment regimens that are not able to successfully treat
or mitigate such chronic pain.
  Further, the current practice of the repeated utilization of different
health  practitioners, tests and unnecessary medical procedures to treat
such chronic pain is resulting in  higher  health  care  costs.    These
increased  costs come from unnecessary visits to health care practition-
ers, more and longer hospital stays, performing unnecessary surgeries or
other medical procedures, and unnecessary  prescription  of  costly  and
dangerous  drugs. This inefficient use of valuable health care resources
is contributing to the rapidly increasing cost of providing health care.
With the continuing aging of New York's general population,  this  trend
may  only  continue  to  grow.  Further,  the  consequences  to patients

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06595-01-5
              

A. 1671                             2

afflicted with chronic pain will continue  to  undermine  the  physical,
social,  economic  and  psychological well being of such patients, their
families and loved ones.
  The  current  health  care delivery system both over treats and under-
treats those afflicted with chronic pain. Ideally, all patients  subject
to  chronic  pain  should be able to obtain an appropriate assessment of
the underlying conditions that cause such pain, followed by an appropri-
ate plan of care that reflects the best practices currently available to
prevent the adverse effects of pain. Such care should be provided  in  a
coordinated  manner  that minimizes such chronic pain and is cost effec-
tive for the patient, health care delivery system, and for employers  of
such  persons.  In sum, the provision of chronic pain treatments needs a
major reassessment to enhance assessment capabilities,  increase  access
to  appropriate care, improve the quality of care, and do so in a manner
that minimizes the cost of providing such care.
  S 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 28-F  to
read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 28-F
                         CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
SECTION 2899-K. CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT.
  S 2899-K. CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT. 1. DEFINITIONS. THE FOLLOWING WORDS
OR PHRASES AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
  (A) "CHRONIC PAIN" SHALL MEAN CONSISTENT AND SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL PAIN
OR  DISCOMFORT THAT LASTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEYOND AN ACUTE
PHYSICAL INJURY OR PAINFUL STIMULUS, AND PERSISTS UNABATED FOR A  PERIOD
OF  TIME  GREATER  THAN  SIX  MONTHS. FURTHER SUCH CONDITION IMPEDES THE
ABILITY OF SUCH PERSON FROM CONDUCTING MANY NORMAL LIFE  ACTIVITIES,  OR
IMPEDES  OR  LEADS TO THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, OR CURTAILS THE ABILITY TO
PERFORM A NUMBER OF PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED PHYSICAL EMPLOYMENT TASKS.  SUCH
CHRONIC  PAIN  MAY  BE ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER PAIN, PAIN FROM CHRONIC OR
DEGENERATIVE DISEASES OR CONDITIONS, OR FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED CAUSE.
  (B) "CHRONIC PAIN CARE CERTIFIED MEDICAL SCHOOL" SHALL MEAN A  MEDICAL
SCHOOL  IN  THE  STATE  WHICH IS AN INSTITUTION WHICH GRANTS A DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE OR DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN ACCORDANCE  WITH
REGULATIONS  PROMULGATED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR OF THE  EDUCA-
TION  LAW,  AND  WHICH MEETS THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO REGU-
LATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER,  AFTER  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE
COUNCIL, THAT ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A MEDICAL SCHOOL IS ELIGIBLE
FOR FUNDING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  (C) "CHRONIC PAIN CARE CERTIFIED RESIDENCY PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN A GRAD-
UATE  MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE STATE WHICH HAS RECEIVED ACCREDI-
TATION FROM A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITATION BODY  FOR  MEDICAL  OR
OSTEOPATHIC  RESIDENCY  PROGRAMS,  AND  WHICH MEETS THE STANDARDS ESTAB-
LISHED PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,  AFTER
CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COUNCIL,  THAT  ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A
RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE  FOR  FUNDING  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
SECTION.
  (D)  "COUNCIL"  SHALL MEAN THE STATE CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
AND TRAINING COUNCIL ESTABLISHED BY SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
  (E) "HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS" SHALL MEAN AND  INCLUDE  THOSE  HEALTH
CARE  PROFESSIONALS WHO REGULARLY TREAT PATIENTS THAT HAVE CHRONIC PAIN,
AND INCLUDES, BUT IS  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  ACUPUNCTURISTS,  CHIROPRACTORS,
DENTISTS,  NURSE  PRACTITIONERS,  REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSES, PODIA-
TRISTS, PHARMACISTS, PHYSICIANS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICIAN  ASSIST-
ANTS, PSYCHIATRISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.

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  (F)  "PROFESSIONAL  CONTINUING  EDUCATION"  OR  "CONTINUING EDUCATION"
SHALL MEAN  ALL  PROFESSIONAL  CONTINUING  EDUCATION  PROGRAMS  REQUIRED
EITHER  BY  STATE  LAW OR BY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED BY THE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR THE REQUIREMENTS OF  LICENSURE,  AND  TO
CONDUCT AND APPROVE PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR A
HEALTH  CARE  PROFESSION.    SUCH  PROFESSIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
LIMITED TO, ACUPUNCTURE,  CHIROPRACTIC,  DENTISTRY,  NURSING,  PODIATRY,
PHARMACY,  MEDICINE,  PHYSICAL THERAPY, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANCE, PSYCHOLOGY
AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
  2. STATE CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL.   (A)
THE  STATE  CHRONIC  PAIN  MANAGEMENT  EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL IS
HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT TO BE AN EXPERT PANEL TO ADVISE THE
COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ON: (I) ADVANCES IN THE OPTI-
MUM TREATMENT, MANAGEMENT AND BEST PRACTICES RELATED  TO  MITIGATING  OR
ALLEVIATING  CHRONIC  PAIN, (II) TO PROMOTE BETTER INTERDISCIPLINARY AND
COORDINATED PROVISION OF CARE RELATED TO CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT,  (III)
TO DEVELOP NEW PUBLIC POLICIES RELATED TO ADVANCING THE TEACHING OF SUCH
NEW  TREATMENTS,  MANAGEMENT REGIMENS, OR BEST PRACTICES ON CHRONIC PAIN
MANAGEMENT AND CARE IN CHRONIC PAIN CARE CERTIFIED MEDICAL  SCHOOLS  AND
CHRONIC  PAIN CARE CERTIFIED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND (IV) DEVELOP GUIDE-
LINES TO ASSIST THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN ESTABLISHING  MATERIALS  AND
CURRICULA  TO  BE  USED  IN  PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION
PROGRAMS FOR THOSE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS REGULATED BY  SUCH  DEPART-
MENT.
  (B)  THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY
THE  COMMISSIONER.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  SEEK  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR
APPOINTMENTS  TO  SUCH  COUNCIL FROM HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, CONSUMER,
MEDICAL INSTITUTIONAL, MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL  LEADERS  AND  OTHER  PROFES-
SIONAL  EDUCATIONAL LEADERS FROM THIS STATE. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUN-
CIL SHALL INCLUDE: NINE REPRESENTATIVES OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND  HOSPITAL
ORGANIZATIONS;  TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF MEDICAL ACADEMIES; ONE ACUPUNCTU-
RIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHTY-TWO  HUNDRED  FOURTEEN  OF  THE
EDUCATION  LAW;  INDIVIDUAL  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  ORGANIZATIONS  BROADLY
REPRESENTATIVE OF PHYSICIANS, FAMILY  PHYSICIANS,  PRIMARY  CARE  PHYSI-
CIANS,  INTERNAL  MEDICINE, RHEUMATOLOGY, NURSING, GERONTOLOGY, HOSPICE,
NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, PEDIATRICS,  SURGERY,  ACUPUNCTURE,  CHIROPRACTIC
CARE,  PODIATRIC CARE, PHARMACISTS OR THOSE PROFESSIONALS RELATED TO THE
PRESCRIPTION OR MANUFACTURE OF PAIN MEDICATIONS, EMERGENCY  ROOM  HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS, MASSAGE THERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERA-
PY,  PATIENT  ADVOCATES AND THE HOSPITAL PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY; HEALTH
CARE PLAN PAYORS OR INSURERS; THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR A MEMBER OF  THE
NEW  YORK  STATE  COUNCIL ON GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION; AND A MEMBER OF
THE NEW YORK STATE PALLIATIVE CARE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL.
  (C) THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN  THE  TREATMENT
AND  MANAGEMENT  OF  CHRONIC  PAIN  AND  THE  CARE  OF PATIENTS THAT ARE
AFFLICTED WITH CHRONIC PAIN CONDITIONS. THE TERM OF SUCH  MEMBERS  SHALL
BE  FOUR  YEARS  AND SUCH TERMS MAY BE RENEWED. MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE NO
COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED ACTUAL AND  NECES-
SARY EXPENSES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
  (D) A CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE ELECTED ANNUALLY BY
THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL SHALL MEET UPON THE CALL OF THE COMMISSIONER OR
THE  CHAIR.  THE  COUNCIL  MAY  ADOPT  REGULATIONS  CONSISTENT WITH THIS
SECTION.
  (E) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE SUCH EMPLOYEES  AND  PROVIDE  FOR
OTHER  RESOURCES  FROM  THE DEPARTMENT AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR THE WORK OF THE  COUNCIL.  THE  COUNCIL

A. 1671                             4

MAY  EMPLOY ADDITIONAL STAFF AND CONSULTANTS AND INCUR OTHER EXPENSES TO
CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES, TO BE PAID FOR FROM  AMOUNTS  WHICH  MAY  BE  MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL FOR THAT PURPOSE.
  (F)  THE  COUNCIL  MAY  PROVIDE  TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ON  THE  LATEST  BEST  PRACTICES,  STRATEGIES,
THERAPIES  AND  MEDICATIONS TO TREAT OR MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN. FURTHER, TO
PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO HEALTH CARE  PROFESSIONALS
TO  ENCOURAGE  BETTER  COORDINATED  CARE  TO  TREAT OR MITIGATE THE PAIN
SUFFERED BY CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS.
  3.  POLICIES TO BE CONSIDERED, EXAMINED AND POSSIBLY ADVANCED  BY  THE
COUNCIL.  THE  COUNCIL SHALL CONSIDER AND EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES
AND GUIDELINES IN THE ADOPTION OF ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS:
  (A) THE TREATMENT AND CARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS  THAT  SUFFER  CHRONIC
PAIN SHOULD BE CENTERED IN THE PRIMARY CARE ENVIRONMENT AND FOSTER COOR-
DINATED CARE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES.
  (B)  CHRONIC  PAIN  MANAGEMENT  AND CARE SHOULD BE COORDINATED TO HELP
MINIMIZE THE DISPENSING OF PRESCRIPTION  DRUGS,  AVOID  DUPLICATIVE  AND
COSTLY  EVALUATIONS  AND  DIAGNOSTIC  TESTS,  AND TREATMENTS TO MINIMIZE
CHRONIC PAIN.
  (C) DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT AND  CARE  TECHNIQUES  THAT
ADDRESS  DISCREPANCIES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS BASED
ON RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, INCOME LEVEL OR AGE.
  (D) DEVELOP AND PROMOTE THE USE OF  BEST  PRACTICES  TO  MITIGATE  THE
SUFFERING  OF  CHRONIC  PAIN  IN  PATIENTS. THE UTILIZATION OF SUCH BEST
PRACTICES CAN BE PROMOTED BY: (I) THE PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL CONTINU-
ING EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO ALL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ON  ADVANCES  IN
BEST  PRACTICES IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT AND CARE, AND (II) THE DEVEL-
OPMENT OF ADVANCES IN BEST PRACTICES BASED  ON  NEW  RESEARCH,  CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE,  AND  THE PROMOTION OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY DIALOG AND COOPER-
ATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
  (E) ENCOURAGE THE WIDER USE OF COORDINATED HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOL-
OGY SYSTEMS TO TRACK PAIN DISORDERS, TREATMENTS, AND OUTCOMES AS A MECH-
ANISM TO IMPROVE CHRONIC PAIN CARE AND TO BETTER  INTEGRATE  COORDINATED
CARE AMONG THE VARIOUS TREATING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
  (F)  CONSIDER  ALTERATIONS IN MEDICAID AND PRIVATE PAYOR REIMBURSEMENT
RATES AND PRACTICES TO  ENCOURAGE  MORE  OPTIMUM  PROVISION  OF  QUALITY
CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT AND CARE BY ALL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
  (G)  ENCOURAGE  A BALANCED APPROACH TO REGULATE THE DISTRIBUTION, USE,
AND PRESCRIPTION OF MEDICATIONS THAT ARE  USED  TO  TREAT  CHRONIC  PAIN
CONDITIONS.  SUCH  BALANCED  APPROACH  NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS CAN
OBTAIN THE MEDICATIONS THAT THEY NEED, BUT ARE NOT OVER PRESCRIBED  SUCH
MEDICATIONS,  WHICH  CAN  LEAD  TO PATIENT ABUSE OR LONG TERM ADDICTION.
FURTHER, THE NEED TO  MONITOR  MULTIPLE  DAILY  MEDICATION  PRESCRIPTION
REGIMENS,  COUPLED  WITH  PSYCHOLOGICAL,  BEHAVIORAL,  AND SOCIAL INTER-
VENTION ACTIVITIES OF SUCH PATIENTS. FURTHER, TO REDUCE  THE  THREAT  OF
DRUG  ABUSE,  ADDICTION  OR  DIVERSION  OF  SUCH MEDICATIONS TO USES NOT
RELATED TO PROPER TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN CONDITIONS.
  4. GRANTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION IN CHRONIC  PAIN  TREAT-
MENT  AND MANAGEMENT. (A) THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED, WITHIN AMOUNTS
FROM ANY SOURCE APPROPRIATED OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR SUCH PURPOSE,  TO
MAKE  GRANTS  TO CHRONIC PAIN CARE CERTIFIED MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS
OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENHANCE THE STUDY AND RESEARCH OF CHRON-
IC PAIN TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT, INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR  UNDER-
GRADUATE  MEDICAL  EDUCATION  IN CHRONIC PAIN CARE TREATMENT AND MANAGE-
MENT, AND ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION OF PHYSICIANS  IN  CHRONIC  PAIN  CARE
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT.

A. 1671                             5

  (B)  GRANT  PROCEEDS  UNDER  THIS  SUBDIVISION MAY BE USED FOR FACULTY
DEVELOPMENT IN CHRONIC PAIN CARE TREATMENT AND  MANAGEMENT;  RECRUITMENT
OF  FACULTY WITH AN EXPERTISE IN THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC
PAIN; COSTS INCURRED TEACHING MEDICAL STUDENTS AT HOSPITAL-BASED  SITES,
NON-HOSPITAL BASED AMBULATORY CARE SETTINGS, CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AGEN-
CIES,  LICENSED  LONG TERM HOME HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH CARE CLINICS, AND IN PRIVATE PHYSICIAN PRACTICES  INCLUDING,  BUT
NOT  LIMITED  TO PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENT-RELATED EXPENSES;
EXPANSION OR DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS THAT TRAIN PHYSICIANS IN THE TREAT-
MENT AND MANAGEMENT OF  CHRONIC  PAIN;  AND  OTHER  INNOVATIVE  PROGRAMS
DESIGNED  TO  INCREASE  THE  COMPETENCY  OF  MEDICAL STUDENTS TO PROVIDE
CHRONIC PAIN CARE TO PATIENTS.
  (C) GRANTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE AWARDED BY THE COMMISSIONER
THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS TO THE  COUNCIL.  THE  COUNCIL
SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING TO THE COMMISSIONER.
  5.  GRANTS  FOR GRADUATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN CHRONIC
PAIN TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT. (A) THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED, WITH-
IN AMOUNTS FROM ANY SOURCE APPROPRIATED OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED  FOR  SUCH
PURPOSE,  TO  MAKE  GRANTS  TO  CHRONIC  PAIN  CARE  CERTIFIED RESIDENCY
PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH OR EXPAND EDUCATION IN CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENT  AND
MANAGEMENT  FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION, AND TO INCREASE THE OPPORTU-
NITIES FOR TRAINEE EDUCATION IN THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF  CHRONIC
PAIN IN THE HOSPITAL-BASED AND NON-HOSPITAL-BASED SETTINGS.
  (B)  GRANTS  UNDER  THIS  SUBDIVISION FOR GRADUATE HEALTH CARE PROFES-
SIONAL EDUCATION AND EDUCATION IN CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENT AND  MANAGEMENT
MAY  BE  USED  FOR  ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOPMENT;
START-UP COSTS AND COSTS INCURRED TEACHING THE MOST ADVANCED STRATEGIES,
THERAPIES, MEDICATIONS OR BEST PRACTICES WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  CARE  OF
PATIENTS  WITH  CHRONIC  PAIN  IN  EITHER HOSPITAL-BASED OR NON-HOSPITAL
BASED SETTINGS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO  PERSONNEL,  ADMINISTRATION
AND  TRAINEE  RELATED EXPENSES; AND OTHER EXPENSES DEEMED REASONABLE AND
NECESSARY BY THE COMMISSIONER.
  (C) GRANTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE AWARDED BY THE COMMISSIONER
THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS TO THE  COUNCIL.  THE  COUNCIL
SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING TO THE COMMISSIONER.
  6.   CHRONIC  PAIN  HEALTH  CARE  PROFESSIONAL  PRACTITIONER  RESOURCE
CENTERS.  THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL, MAY DESIG-
NATE A CHRONIC  PAIN  TREATMENT  AND  MANAGEMENT  PRACTITIONER  RESOURCE
CENTER  OR  CENTERS.  SUCH RESOURCE CENTER MAY BE STATEWIDE OR REGIONAL,
AND SHALL ACT AS A SOURCE OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
FOR PRACTITIONERS ON THE LATEST STRATEGIES,  THERAPIES,  MEDICATIONS  OR
BEST  PRACTICES  WITH  REGARD TO THE OPTIMUM TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF
CHRONIC PAIN. THE DEPARTMENT, IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COUNCIL,  MAY
CONTRACT  WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS TO ESTABLISH
AND MANAGE SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS. SUCH RESOURCE CENTERS MAY CHARGE A FEE
TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES.
  7. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR  HEALTH  CARE  PROFESSIONALS.
THE  COUNCIL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE EDUCATION DEPART-
MENT AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL DEVELOP,  COMPILE
AND  PUBLISH  INFORMATION AND COURSE MATERIALS ON THE ADVANCED TREATMENT
AND MITIGATION OF CHRONIC PAIN SUFFERED BY PATIENTS. IN ADDITION  WITHIN
TWO  YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, THE COUNCIL SHALL MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE COURSE WORK,  TRAIN-
ING  AND  CURRICULUM  TO  BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION ON THE
BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIES, THERAPIES AND APPROACHES FOR THE  MITIGATION
AND  TREATMENT  OF  CHRONIC PAIN REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE VARIOUS

A. 1671                             6

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH D OF SUBDIVISION THREE  OF
SECTION  SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED SEVEN OF THE EDUCATION LAW. SUCH RECOMMENDA-
TIONS SHALL INCLUDE COMPONENTS WHICH ADDRESS THE INCREASING  AND  NECES-
SARY INTERDISCIPLINARY COOPERATION BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FOR
THE  COORDINATED REDUCTION OF CHRONIC PAIN IN PATIENTS AND THE REDUCTION
OF HEALTH CARE COSTS.
  8. REPORT.  ON OR BEFORE MARCH FIRST OF EACH ODD  NUMBERED  YEAR,  THE
COUNCIL SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER
OF  EDUCATION, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, AND THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON HEALTH
A REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS RELATING TO THE TREATMENT
AND MITIGATION OF CHRONIC PAIN. SUCH REPORT MAY ALSO INCLUDE SUCH LEGIS-
LATIVE PROPOSALS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
  S 3. Paragraphs b and c of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of the educa-
tion law, as added by chapter 987 of the laws of 1971, are amended and a
new paragraph d is added to read as follows:
  b. Review qualifications in connection  with  licensing  requirements;
[and]
  c. Provide for licensing examinations and reexaminations[.]; AND
  D. (I) ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR PREPROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCA-
TION  FOR  HEALTH  CARE  PROFESSIONALS,  AS  DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (E) OF
SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT  HUNDRED  NINETY-NINE-K  OF  THE
PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW, RELATING TO THE MITIGATION AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC
PAIN. IN THE PROMULGATION OF SUCH  STANDARDS,  THE  DEPARTMENT  AND  THE
APPROPRIATE  BOARD  OF  EACH  SUCH PROFESSION SHALL CONSIDER AND, TO THE
EXTENT PRACTICABLE, IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE  STATE  CHRONIC
PAIN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL. FURTHERMORE, SUCH STAND-
ARDS  SHALL  PROVIDE  FOR  SUCH  TRAINING AND COURSEWORK ON THE ADVANCED
TREATMENT AND MITIGATION OF CHRONIC PAIN AS SHALL BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE
HEALTH CARE PROFESSION, AND SHALL ADDRESS THE INCREASING  AND  NECESSARY
INTERDISCIPLINARY  COOPERATION BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE
COORDINATED REDUCTION OF CHRONIC PAIN IN PATIENTS AND THE  REDUCTION  OF
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
  (II)  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ESTABLISH STANDARDS REQUIRING THAT ALL
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS APPLYING, ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOU-
SAND EIGHTEEN, INITIALLY OR FOR A RENEWAL OF A LICENSE, REGISTRATION  OR
CERTIFICATE  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  TITLE,  SHALL, IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION OR CERTIFICATION  REQUIREMENTS,  HAVE  COMPLETED
SUCH  COURSEWORK AND TRAINING IN THE TREATMENT AND MITIGATION OF CHRONIC
PAIN AS SHALL BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH  (I)  OF  THIS  PARA-
GRAPH. THE COURSEWORK AND TRAINING SHALL BE OBTAINED FROM AN INSTITUTION
OR  PROVIDER  THAT  HAS  BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SUCH
COURSEWORK AND TRAINING. EACH APPLICANT  SHALL  PROVIDE  THE  DEPARTMENT
WITH  DOCUMENTATION  SHOWING HE OR SHE HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIRED TRAIN-
ING.
  (III) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM THE  REQUIREMENTS
OF  SUBPARAGRAPHS  (I)  AND  (II)  OF  THIS PARAGRAPH TO ANY HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONAL WHO REQUESTS SUCH AN EXEMPTION AND WHO DEMONSTRATES TO  THE
DEPARTMENT'S SATISFACTION THAT:
  (A)  THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR HIM OR HER TO COMPLETE SUCH COURSEWORK
AND TRAINING BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE; OR
  (B) HE OR SHE HAS COMPLETED COURSEWORK  AND  TRAINING  DEEMED  BY  THE
DEPARTMENT TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE STANDARDS FOR COURSEWORK AND TRAINING
APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.

A. 1671                             7

  S  4.  Subdivision  7  of  section  2807-s of the public health law is
amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
  (D)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF THIS SECTION, PRIOR
TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR DISTRIBUTION IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  SECTION
TWENTY-EIGHT  HUNDRED SEVEN-J OF THIS ARTICLE PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPHS (B)
AND (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONER ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS  UP
TO  TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR GRANTS FOR UNDERGRADU-
ATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN  CHRONIC  PAIN  TREATMENT  AND
MANAGEMENT  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED
NINETY-NINE-K OF THIS CHAPTER; AND UP TO TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED  THOU-
SAND  DOLLARS FOR GRANTS FOR GRADUATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
IN CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-K OF THIS CHAPTER.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately provided that  the  amend-
ments  to  subdivision 7 of section 2807-s of the public health law made
by section four of this act shall not  affect  the  expiration  of  such
section and shall expire therewith.