Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) has introduced legislation that he says will end pain medication delays in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. Others, however, argue the bill would create new paperwork requirements for caregivers.

The new bill, titled the Nursing Home Resident Pain Relief Act of 2011, would allow authorized nurses and other appropriately licensed health care professionals to order and administer pain medication based on a physician’s verbal order. The legislation would require written records documenting the process, but nurses could call pharmacies to request urgently needed medication. Under the current law, physicians must issue all prescriptions for pain medication in writing.

According to Kohl, this process causes many seniors to unnecessarily suffer while they wait for pain medication. “The law should prevent suffering, not make it worse,” Kohl said. “Unfortunately, DEA’s crackdown has left elderly nursing home residents waiting for hours or even days for relief from excruciating pain. This legislation would help end these needless and avoidable delays.” Others believe that the new bill would not minimize suffering, since the legislation would add paperwork, which could distract caregivers from their most important task, caring for the senior.

Read Senator Kohl’s press release on the introduction of the Nursing Home Resident Pain Relief Act of 2011.


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