Bill Text: NY J01368 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 5-12, 2019, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-07 - ADOPTED [J01368 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01368-Introduced.html

---

Assembly Resolution No. 356

BY: M. of A. Solages

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May  5-12,  2019,  as Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS, An estimated 10 million people in the United States, and an
estimated 3-6 percent of the world's  population,  have  been  diagnosed
with  Fibromyalgia,  (FM),  an  illness  for which there is yet no known
cause or cure; and

  WHEREAS, A chronic syndrome that is increasing  at  alarming  rates,
Fibromyalgia causes debilitating widespread pain and fatigue, appears to
have  a genetic component, and occurs in women, men, and children of all
ethnicities; and

  WHEREAS, Patients with Fibromyalgia often have to learn to live with
widespread  pain  throughout  their  bodies,  extreme   fatigue,   sleep
disorders,  stiffness  and  weakness,  migraine  headaches, numbness and
tingling, and impairment of memory and concentration; and

  WHEREAS, It often takes an  average  of  five  years  to  receive  a
diagnosis  of  Fibromyalgia,  and  medical  professionals frequently are
inadequately  educated  regarding  the  diagnosis   and   treatment   of
Fibromyalgia; and

  WHEREAS,   A  2007  study  found  that  FM  patients  spend  between
$100-$1,000 per month above insurance costs to see healthcare providers;
costs in the United States are estimated  between  $12-$14  billion  per
year and account for loss of 1-2% of the nation's productivity; and

  WHEREAS,   According  to  a  survey  of  1,168  FM  patients,  total
healthcare costs may be 2-3 times higher than patients  without  FM;  in
another  study  published  by  the  American College of Rheumatology, of
2,321 patients  surveyed,  34.8%  received  Social  Security  Disability
benefits; failure to diagnose and adequately treat Fibromyalgia has deep
financial implications for patients and for the healthcare system; and

  WHEREAS,  According  to  a  Fact  Sheet  provided  by  the  National
Fibromyalgia Association, 90% of physicians agree there is  a  need  for
more physician oriented information, and 82% of physicians agree that FM
is   difficult   to   treat  with  currently  available  tools;  use  of
complementary and alternative medicine is  2  1?2  times  higher  in  FM
patients; and

  WHEREAS,  Patients  report  that  the  optimal  approach to treating
Fibromyalgia is a Team of Physicians, and traditional and  complementary
therapists,  tailoring  the  treatment for each individual patient; this
can  be  accomplished  best   in   an   arrangement   that   facilitates
communication between the patient and the Team; awareness events need to
be  expanded  that  will  continue  to promote understanding and support
within the broader community; and

  WHEREAS, The International Institute For Human Empowerment, Inc.,  a
nonprofit  charitable  organization in the Capital District of New York,

is dedicated to empowering all who face discrimination as  a  result  of
race,  gender,  socio-economic  status, age, disabilities, and lifestyle
choices; and

  WHEREAS,  Fibromyalgia  patients  are  often  misunderstood  by  the
medical, business, and education communities, primarily due to the  lack
of  teaching  in  medical  schools  about  what  is known regarding this
potentially disabling illness; and

  WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia patients often lose  jobs,  insurance,  homes,
and  spouses  or  significant  others  due  to  lack  of  awareness  and
understanding about the potentially devastating impact of  Fibromyalgia;
and

  WHEREAS,  The  International  Institute For Human Empowerment, under
the leadership of Sue Shipe, PhD, developed the Fibromyalgia Task  Force
to  address  inequities  in  the diagnosis and treatment of Fibromyalgia
patients due to lack of adequate education of physicians regarding  this
illness; and

  WHEREAS, The Fibromyalgia Task Force wishes to honor Beth Yoxthimer,
Physical  Therapist,  founder  of  the  Integrative  Pain Program at St.
Peter's  Hospital,  for  providing  innovative  and   outstanding   pain
management  services  for over 20 years for patients living with chronic
pain, including Fibromyalgia; and

  WHEREAS,  Patients  benefit  from  her  intensive  study   of   pain
management,  and  her  Clinical  Practice  using  integrative therapies;
patients can participate  in  her  in-person  and  online  Chronic  Pain
Support  Groups,  as  well  as  receive  Physical Therapy including aqua
therapy and integrative manual therapy; and

  WHEREAS, The Fibromyalgia Task Force expresses deep appreciation  to
Beth Yoxthimer, PT, and recognizes her commitment to continuous learning
through  her  Certification  in  Pain  Management, her membership in The
American Academy of Pain Management,  and  her  work  using  integrative
therapies; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  recognizes  the  needs  of  those
chronically ill people who suffer from Fibromyalgia, and  urges  all  of
our  citizens  to  support  the  search  for  more effective treatments,
prevention, and a cure, for those individuals and families who deal with
this devastating syndrome on a daily basis; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to proclaim May 5-12, 2019, as
Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; International  Institute  For  Human  Empowerment,  Inc.;  The
Center For Rheumatology; and St. Peter's Integrative Pain Program.