January/February 2024

• NPAC successfully testified to support the removal of the Opioid Dosage Threshold for Chronic Noncancer Pain from 2026 Quality Standards for the MEDICAID/CHIP program due to the risk of patient harm. The MEDICAID/CHIP advisory committee voted to remove this provision.

• NPAC partnered with other disability rights organizations to oppose the Census Bureau's proposal to change questions about disability in the 2025 census. The new questions were likely to reduce current estimates of people living with disabilities in the US in ways that could undermine everything from funding to services. The Census Bureau agreed to retain the current questions for 2025.

• NPAC’s Executive Director spoke at the 5th Annual NIH HEAL Initiative Scientific Meeting on the importance of translating and disseminating science to people living with pain and their families.

• NPAC’s Executive Director participated in her first two-day meeting as a subject matter expert for the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council (Council).

• NPAC worked with lawyers at the Legal Action Center on how to evaluate legal claims related to healthcare abandonment and termination of medication. 

• NPAC collaborated with Spondylitis Association to deliver a symposium that included talks by Dr. Samina Ali, Dr. Tamara Baker, Dr. Monica Mallampalli, and Kate Nicholson.