We are pleased to announce that our coalition conservative care bill (opioid bill), A273 sponsored by Assemblymember Gottfried and S4640 sponsored by Senator Rivera, has passed both the Assembly and the Senate! The bill now heads to the governor’s office for review. We will be heavily advocating for her to sign the bill into law.
As you recall, this legislation will require a practitioner treating a patient with a neuromusculoskeletal condition causing pain to discuss with the patient the efficacy of non-opioid conservative care treatments before prescribing on opioid. These treatments include massage, chiropractic, physical therapy and occupational therapy care.
For the past few years, we have worked together with the American Massage Therapy Association - New York Chapter, the New York Physical Therapy Association and the New York State Occupational Therapy Association to pass this legislation. Many thanks to our lobbyist, Amy Kellogg, Esq for her continuous efforts in promoting this bill, and to the bill sponsors Assemblymember Gottfried and Senator Rivera, for understanding the importance of increased access to conservative care to aid in stemming the opioid crisis. We would also like to thank the co-sponsors of this legislation Assemblymembers Griffin, Galey, Barron, Kelles, Seawright, Thiele, McDonald, Jensen, L. Rosenthal, Sayegh, Stirpe and Lupardo and Senators Gaughran, Harckham and Skoufis.
While this bill does not mandate referral to a conservative care provider, it does open the conversation for CDC guideline supported treatment options for chronic pain prior to providing that first opioid prescription and gets chiropractic care specifically listed an opioid alternative in New York State statute.
This accomplishment was only possible through the determined work of the NYSCA and the Council working together to serve the Chiropractic profession and advocate for patient health and wellness in New York State.
