Assembly Resolution No. 276

BY: M. of A. Solages

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 9-15, 2021, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, An estimated 10-12 million people in the United States, and
an estimated 3-6 percent of the world's population, have been diagnosed
with Fibromyalgia, 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, has
demonstrated a genetic component, and occurs in women, men, and children
of all ages and ethnicities; and

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

WHEREAS, The average gap between medical research and clinical
practice is 17 years; and

WHEREAS, It often takes an average of five years to receive a
diagnosis of Fibromyalgia; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no database that maintains accurate
information regarding the prevalence of Fibromyalgia in New York State,
or the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many physicians refuse to treat Fibromyalgia patients whose
symptoms tend to increase with lack of appropriate treatments; 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
Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat with the tools that are currently
available; and use of complementary and alternative medicine is 2 1?2
times higher in Fibromyalgia patients; and

WHEREAS, The NIH reports that average direct costs above insurance,
over a three-month period, added up to $951per patient, which could be
translated in a mean annual cost of $3,804; 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 currently 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, Patients report that the optimal approach to treating
Fibromyalgia is a Team of Physicians, with 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; 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, socioeconomic status, age, disabilities, and lifestyle
choices; and

WHEREAS, The International Institute For Human Empowerment, Inc.,
under the leadership of Sue Shipe, PhD, developed the Fibromyalgia Task
Force of New York State to address inequities in the diagnosis and
treatment of Fibromyalgia patients due to lack of education in medical
schools and continuing education for Physicians; lack of understanding
by society at large; lack of understanding and adequate accommodations
by employers; and lack of legal protections due to the general lack of
recognition of the devastating impact of this illness; and

WHEREAS, The Fibromyalgia Task Force of New York State serves
patients across the State of New York, provides education and advocacy
nationally, and shares information internationally; and

WHEREAS, The Fibromyalgia Task Force of New York State is developing
a website for Physicians that will provide a comprehensive overview of
Fibromyalgia research with implications for new treatments, information
on Social Security Disability, and use of complementary therapies; and

WHEREAS, The Fibromyalgia Task Force of New York State recommends
the formation of a statewide committee comprised of patients,
researchers, physicians, legislators, business, education, complementary
therapists, and others to address issues relevant to Fibromyalgia: 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 a cure and assist those 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 9-15, 2021, 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.; Intidyn;
Albany Medical Center; New York State Department of Health; Medical
Society of the State of New York; and SUNY at Albany Department of
Public Health.