PAIN PATIENTS ADVOCACY COALITION
AMERICAN PAIN INSTITUTE (API)
Tina Crenshaw, Chairwoman
320 Benton Drive Salem, AR 72576 870-371-0611
e-mail:
painpatient1@yahoo.com
web site:
www.AmericanPainInstitute.org
September 27, 2010
Governor Mike Beebe
State of Arkansas
State Capitol, Room 250
Little Rock, AR 72201
RE: 2003 Chronic Pain Treatment Act and the Arkansas State Medical Board
Dear Governor Beebe:
As the Chairwoman of the Pain Patient Advocacy Coalition of the American Pain Institute (API), this letter is written to request an urgent meeting with you to discuss why the Arkansas State Medical Board is not following the dictates of our 2003 Chronic Pain Treatment Act. Many of us have called, mailed and faxed letters to your office in Little Rock, AR to express our concerns as chronic pain sufferers, only to be treated like second class citizens by your staff representative on health issues, Joyce Dees.
This hard fought legislation was championed by Arkansas physician, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the American Pain Institute (API). Dr. Myers helped organize a coalition of thousands of Arkansas chronic pain patients and physicians to pass the 2003 Chronic Pain Treatment Act with the goal of allowing our doctors to treat our chronic pain without losing their medical licenses.
The state of Arkansas is the home of thousands of people who suffer with chronic pain. As chronic pain sufferers our
families, friends and communities share our burdens. Our medications are desperately needed so that we can lead productive lives. In far too many cases, being able to work, let alone, getting out of bed every day, would not be possible without the narcotic pain medications that we must have prescribed to us from the physicians who are willing to treat us.
As a state senator you supported the 2003 Chronic Pain Treatment Act. As governor, we hope that you will make sure that the letter and spirit of the law is followed and our unprecedented historic and sacrificial pain patient advocacy efforts are respected.
Sincerely,
Tina Crenshaw
enclosure - 2003 Chronic Pain Treatment Act
cc: Members of the Pain Patient Advocacy Coalition
State Representative Curren Everett
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.