Tag: House Bill 2182 (2024)

      Many Missourians want to avoid opioids when given an option for dealing with pain, and one state representative wants to make sure they know what their choices are.

      House Bill 2182 would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to create an educational pamphlet on the use of non-opioid options for pain management.  It would cover pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments and related advantages and disadvantages.

      It’s sponsored by Springfield Republican Melanie Stinnett. 

      “Some people know that if they are presented with or given an opioid within their care, that they are at a higher likelihood of becoming addicted to that, and we want to give people as many choices as possible to say, ‘I want to choose something else,’ and so if they don’t know that there are other options, then they don’t know that they can provide that other option when they’re talking with their physician,” Stinnett said.

      “I think many of us are familiar with opioids and what opioids are and what they do, and maybe there are people who would say, ‘Well if an opioid’s my option, I want pain management when I go to the doctor for a certain procedure,’ but if they know there are other, non-opioid options that could present the same pain relief for them, then maybe they would make that choice instead.”

      To Stinnett, this would be a continuation of the legislative efforts that have surrounded opioid abuse for many years.

      “I think every step that we can take, when we’re talking about decreasing opioid use, is an important step toward making sure that our communities are safe and the people within our communities have options to choose for themselves, so they can maintain their safety.”

      The proposal has not been referred to a committee.  With the session entering early March, Stinnett knows that isn’t encouraging, but she’s hopeful the one-page provision can be added to some other legislation.  Even if it does not gain traction this year, she said the Department has been receptive and could create a pamphlet anyway.

      In any case, she wants to see her idea become law to make sure such pamphlets are created, maintained, and updated as an ongoing educational tool.

      Even in the absence of a pamphlet, Stinnett encourages Missourians to talk to their doctors and ask about their options.

      “If a physician, or another provider, or maybe you talked with somebody who had a similar procedure and they said, ‘Oh, these are the pain medications that I took,’ ask about your options.  It’s important that we’re always inquisitive about what’s available or us in our healthcare so that we can make choices.”

      “I think it makes sense for us to be prepared consumers of health, so before you go into a doctor’s office before you go in for any kind of healthcare, you need to be prepared with any kind of questions or thoughts that you might have,” Stinnett said.

HB 2182 has been referred to the House Committee on Healthcare Reform.