Oregon folks - we need your help!

IF YOU LIVE IN OREGON OR HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY RESIDING IN THAT STATE, WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please read below. Thank you.

The chairman of the Oregon House Committee on Health and Human Services, Rep. Billy Dalto,
will hold a hearing on the RSD Awareness bill, HB 2414

What does this mean?

At least we have an opportunity to have legislators hear our concerns about how health care providers often do not know about RSD, about how to treat it, etc. It means that there is a chance that we can still pass this bill on to become a law.

Right now we need People Power!

Contact Rep. Dalto to express your support of HB 2414. (contact info below)

You can email, FAX, write, or call him. Ask your friends, family and neighbors to help out as well. Below are some things you can include. Don't make it too long or it won't get read.

Or, you can simply say: "I support HB 2414 on RSD Awareness."

You can also contact the committee members to express your support, but only if you live in their district- see the list below.

Reasons to Support HB 2414 to Promote Awareness and Education about RSD About RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy)

RSD is a severe neurological disease that can result in intractable pain and permanent disability. The pain of RSD is rated on the McGill Pain Index as 42. (Cancer pain is rated at 28.) If RSD is treated properly in the early stages, the prognosis can be good proper treatment, the results are usually devastating and irreversible.

Why Oregon needs HB 2414

1-Educate Healthcare Practitioners:
Most healthcare practitioners in Oregon do not know about this disease.
Most patients have to explain their disease to practitioners.
Most patients do not receive the proper treatment.

2-Help DHS obtain grant money:
We understand that the Oregon budget does not have the funding for these efforts, so this bill will likely help the DHS in obtaining grants to educate Oregon practitioners and the public, facilitating early diagnosis and proper treatment.

3-Save Oregon money:
A-RSD is relatively common amongst worker compensation patients.
B-When RSD is not treated properly, many patients can't work anymore, and must seek public assistance.
C-When RSD is not treated properly, many patient must obtain disability assistance.

4-Save lives:
Suicide is relatively common amongst RSD patients due to the pain and the accompanying symptoms and circumstances these people, having a knowledgeable and supportive healthcare team can make the difference between life and death.

Helpful Websites:
http://www.rsds.org/

http://www.rsdsa-ca.org/

Rep. Billy Dalto of Salem
Email: rep.billydalto@state.or.us
Phone: 503-986-1421
Fax: 503-986-1347
Address: 900 Court St. NE
H-291
Salem OR
97301

You can also contact the committee members to express your support, but only if you live in their district. So, if you live in any of these districts, we strongly encourage you contact them:

Representatives Tom Butler of Ontario,
Carolyn Tomei of SE Portland/ Milwaukie,
Gordon Anderson of Grants Pass,
Deborah Boone of Tillamook,
Kevin Cameron of Salem, and
Mitch Greenlick of NW Portland.

How to contact your state legislators
For all of the legislators in your district, go to:
www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/

Write to members of the Oregon House and Senate at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/writeset.htm

View bills in process at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/searchmeas.html

See Current schedule of public meetings and events at: http://www.oregon.gov/index.cfm?CurrPID=665

Streaming A/V of floor sessions & many committee hearings at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/listn/listenset.htm

View current laws at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bills_laws/home.htm and type in the subject.