A method and apparatus for reducing power dissipation in mobile stations that are configured to provide concurrent voice and high-speed packet data communication capability in a cellular telecommunications system. A state is defined during which data directed to a mobile station (MS) is not fully receive processed by the MS. Such a reduced receive processing state may be co-extensive with a Control Hold state. A notification mechanism is presented by which a serving base station directs a mobile station to return from reduced to full receive processing in advance of transmitting data on a packet data channel. The notification may take several forms, such as a message presenting the MS MAC address and one or more other bits of predetermined data content. Return to active (full receive) status may be required to be completed within a predetermined time, such as one ACK delay, after notification.