Just curious what other chronic pain patients in WA state plan to do with the rest of their lives after 1/1/12?

So as most chronic pain sufferers in WA state know by now the legislature has handed down what our treatment (or lack of treatment) will be after the 1st of the year. Basically any MD treating us will be risking their lively hood or at best multiplying their paperwork headaches a 100 fold if they dare to treat us. Not surprisingly most MD's have made the decision not to treat chronic pain at all. Mine sent me to the only specialist in the area (a psychiatrist) who is not in my insurance plan (did I mention he was the only option within 75 miles?). Like many people with major health issues, I don't have much money. I kept the appt. and wrote a check for 250.00. We talked for 10 minutes, he found out I wasn't covered and said "this isn't going to work, I'll need to see you 2 times a week for the 1st month alone" He then did something I've never heard of a doctor doing. He excused himself and returned with my check, handed it to me and said "I'm sorry, this just won't work, good luck to you." I nearly started crying at his kindness. Returning the check meant I could pay rent. A very classy guy. The next closest pain specialist is also not in my insurances coverage.

A my Doctor handed me my prescriptions in November (a 3 month supply) he simply said "the new law goes into effect Jan 1st." No more was said between us. No more needed to be, he's been alerting me of this train that's about to hit me for more than a year now. He's a compassionate man. He's been my GP for 14 years or so. I've come to regard him as a friend. Even if he offered to continue my treatment I'm not sure I'd ask him to. The last thing I want on my conscience would be to take down a doctor who's helped me so much and is truly a great doctor.

This is a throw away acount for many reasons. The last thing I want to do is have inquiries as to my MD's name or location. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I can't be treated anymore. Work will be impossible. Essentially this short sighted law will retire me at 51 years old and make me a ward of the state I suppose. Welfare then SSI. Hopefully I won't be on the streets in the mean time. I've worked my whole life since I was 14 (not counting paper routes and that type of thing before). Laziness is not my nature. But it's too hard to get through 8 hours with my medicine. I can't even imagine it without. What I really find ironic is that the main rallying cry behind passing this law was the jump in accidental deaths due to pain meds. I wonder how they'll measure the jump in suicides due to people not being able to stand living in pain. Not something I'm actively considering as an option but I'll bet many will. I'd love to hear what plans others Washingtonians in similar situations are coming up with. Thanks for listening, end rant.

** tldr; Wa. state is about to implement a sweeping law aimed at managing pain management. It's a bad law that will harm the weakest in society and it pisses me off.**