1. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising: a controller adapted to execute instructions included in firmware; a programmable neural therapy source adapted to provide programmable electrical neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation electrode; and a state machine included in hardware circuitry coupled to the programmable neural therapy source, the state machine configured to automatically apply power to the neural therapy source when neural therapy is initiated by a firmware instruction and automatically remove power from the neural therapy source when neural therapy is terminated by a firmware instruction.