GLENVIEW – State Senator Laura Fine joined the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in announcing the City of Evanston and Wilmette Park District will each receive $600,000 in Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants to assist with ongoing improvements to recreational services.

“The OSLAD grant program continues to support local park districts in giving back to their communities,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “The investment into our local parks will allow more residents to enjoy the beautiful areas around the district.”

OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s becoming one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure patients suffering from chronic pain receive recommended treatment, State Senator Laura Fine passed legislation to authorize physicians to prescribe controlled substances according to updated federal guidelines.

“To combat the opioid epidemic, in 2016 states instituted policies that severely restricted the prescribing of certain opioids," said Fine (D-Glenview). “As a result, chronic pain patients with a legitimate need for these medications were at risk of self-medicating and putting their mental and physical health in jeopardy.”

House Bill 5373 reflects new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prescribing of opioids for chronic pain. The legislation would allow physicians to make necessary prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, without strict limitations based on dosage amounts except as provided under federal law.

SPRINGFIELD – Working with advocates for patients with chronic pain and the State Medical Society, State Senator Laura Fine advanced legislation authorizing prescribers to make chronic pain health treatment decisions for their patients. In 2016, states began instituting policies severely restricting the prescription of certain opioids, however, for some patients this is a life-saving treatment.

“Chronic pain patients who cannot access the proper treatments may turn to self-medicating with dangerous alternatives. These alternatives can put a patient's physical and mental health at risk,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This initiative allows for healthcare professionals to make medical decisions based on their patient’s needs.”

House Bill 5373 reflects new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prescribing of opioids for chronic pain. The legislation allows physicians to make necessary prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, without strict limitations based on dosage amounts except as provided under federal law.

CHICAGO – In a continuing effort to ensure every Illinoisan has access to mental health and substance abuse care, Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee Chair Laura Fine held a joint subject matter hearing Thursday with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe to discuss financial and administrative barriers facing providers.

“Identifying the challenges facing mental health and substance abuse providers is essential in meeting responsible care standards and ensuring access to treatment,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Organizations and programs struggle to further expand accessibility due to financial barriers, high staff turnover rates and the lack of proper resources. It is crucial that future funding and policies appropriately reflect their needs.”

Continuing from her first subject matter hearing in Chicago, Fine discussed the current challenges facing substance abuse, prevention and recovery providers across Illinois, including upgrading IT services, staff retention, staff salary constraints, reimbursement disparity based on a provider’s licensure, restriction for requesting funding and funding cuts.