UN health agency to remove controversial opiod guidelines

The World Health Organization notified U.S. lawmakers Wednesday that it will discontinue two publications on prescribing opioid painkillers in response to allegations that the pharmaceutical industry influenced the reports.

The pledge to remove the guidelines comes a month after U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Hal Rogers accused the WHO of being influenced by Purdue Pharma, the American manufacturer of the potent painkiller OxyContin. The lawmakers’ report claimed the guidelines, crafted in part by organizations with financial ties to the company, downplay the risk of opioids despite the American epidemic that has killed more than 390,000 since 1999.

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Chronic Pain Task Force on Opioids and What Happens Now

Chronic Pain Task Force on Opioids and What Happens Now

 

Dr. Vanila Singh

“50 million people have chronic pain—20 million of those have high impact chronic pain—and there is an absolute need as a medical community and larger society to get educated on what the best treatments are.”

That was the task defined by Dr. Vanila Singh, the Chairperson of the Pain Management Inter-Agency Task Force.

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CMS Proposes to Update e-Prescribing Standards

On June 17, CMS issued a proposed rule  - External Link Policy - Opens in a new window  that would update the Part D e-prescribing program by adopting standards that ensure secure transmissions and expedite prior authorizations.

“Improving patients’ access to prescription drugs is a top priority for CMS,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “This proposed rule would reduce the time it takes for a patient to receive needed medications and ease the prescriber burden by giving clinicians the flexibility and choice to complete prior authorization transactions electronically.”

Under the proposed change, clinicians would be able to choose to complete prior authorizations online, reducing burden for providers through a more streamlined process for performing prior authorization for Part D prescriptions. Clinicians who select the electronic option will typically be able to satisfy the terms of a prior authorization in real time and before a prescription is transmitted to a pharmacy, so patients do not arrive at a pharmacy counter to find that their prescription cannot be filled.

The proposed rule would implement new prior authorization transaction standards for the Part D e-Prescribing program as required by the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. The proposed standards would begin in January 2021.

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TDI-Division of Workers' Compensation Plan-Based Audit

All,

 On May 8, 2019, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) solicited and received constructive input from workers’ compensation system participants on the proposed Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Plan-Based Audit (Plan-Based Audit). DWC appreciates the input provided by system participants. All comments were carefully considered and discussed. The commissioner of workers’ compensation approved the Plan-Based Audit on May 29, 2019.  All medical quality reviews initiated on or after January 1, 2019, will follow the approved Medical Quality Review Process (Process) in effect. The Process and Plan-Based Audit are posted on the TDI website at:www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/hcprovider/medadvisor.html.  Please advise your members and staff. 

 If you have any questions regarding this memo, contact myself or Mary Landrum at 512-804-4814 and [email protected].

Governor Abbott Signs Opioid Legislation

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Dr. Owen is the New DWC Medical Advisor

Congratulations to TPS Emeritus Board Member and Past President Dr. Owen
for his new role as DWC Medical Advisor


The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Graves T. Owen, M.D. will serve as DWC Medical Advisor and Jennifer Hopens will serve as Deputy Commissioner of the Appeals Panel.

Dr. Owen is a board-certified anesthesiologist with fellowship training in interdisciplinary pain management. After completing his fellowship training in pain management, Dr. Owen went on to practice interdisciplinary pain management in Round Rock for 24 years. In addition to his practice, Dr. Owen published numerous articles and frequently lectured on pain management topics. He also served as president of the Texas Pain Society and board chairman for the Texas Pain Foundation.  Dr. Owen has served on DWC’s Medical Quality Review Panel since 2010.

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TPS Attends TMB Stakeholder Meeting 06/04/2019

Texas Pain Society Attends Texas Medical Board Stakeholder Meeting 06/04/2019


                                                                           Left to Right: C.M. Schade, MD, PhD, Larry Driver, MD, Richard Hurley, MD

 Many thanks to TPS Past Presidents Drs. Larry Driver, Richard Hurley and C.M. Schade for spending a day in Austin to be a part of the Texas Medical Board (TMB) Enforcement Stakeholder Group Meeting. 

Texas Pain Society has been a long-time stakeholder with the TMB and works year-round to provide input on rules that affect our members ability to provide care for pain patients in Texas. 

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TexMed 2019 Pain Lectures

TexMed 2019 - Texas Pain Society - Pain Lectures Success!

Many thanks to Drs. Tim Zoys & C.M. Schade for co-chairing the 2019 Texas Pain Society Program! Thank you to our amazing speakers for their time and energy and expertise to educate attendees about the most current standards for pain management. Each year this program continues to grow and attract more and more attendees, this year was another full room with over 140 attendees! 

                    

Primary Care Pain Medicine: State-of-the-Art 2019 
Presented by Brian Bruel, MD, Director, Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

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Pain Management Task Force Issues Final Report on Best Practices for Treatment of Pain

Pain Management Task Force Issues Final Report on Best Practices for Treatment of Pain

The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee established by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 - PDF, today released its final report on acute and chronic pain management best practices, calling for a balanced, individualized, patient-centered approach.

To ensure best practices for the treatment of pain, the Task Force final report underscores the need to address stigma, risk assessment, access to care and education. It also highlights five broad categories for pain treatment: medications, interventional procedures, restorative therapies, behavioral health, and complementary and integrative health approaches.

“There is a no one-size-fits-all approach when treating and managing patients with painful conditions,” said Vanila M. Singh, M.D., MACM, Task Force chair, and chief medical officer of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. “Individuals who live with pain are suffering and need compassionate, individualized and effective approaches to improving pain and clinical outcomes. This report is a roadmap that is desperately needed to treat our nation’s pain crisis.”

The Task Force was created in the midst of a national opioid epidemic, but also at a time when an estimated 50 million adults in the United States experience chronic daily pain. As such, the report emphasizes safe opioid stewardship by recommending more time for history-taking, screening tools, lab tests, and clinician time with patients to establish a therapeutic alliance and to set clear goals for improved functionality, quality of life, and activities of daily living.  Medication disposal and safe medication storage are also emphasized for patient safety.

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Patient-Centered Care Is Key to Best Practices in Pain Management

Patient-Centered Care Is Key to Best Practices in Pain Management

Summary: Dr. Vanila Singh explains the work of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force.


 

On May 10, the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force voted on its final recommendations, which emphasize the importance of providing balanced, individualized, patient-centered pain management to ensure better clinical outcomes for pain that improve quality of life and functionality for patients. The group recommended a broad framework of approaches for treating acute and chronic pain. Following is an interview with Dr. Vanila Singh on the task force’s work.

Q: Dr. Singh, the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee that you chaired, just voted on final recommendations for pain management best practices. What was the Task Force's charge?
A: We were charged by section 101 of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) - PDF to propose updates to best practices and issue recommendations that address gaps or inconsistencies for managing chronic and acute pain.

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2019 Raj & Racz Excellence Awards

Congratulations to TPS Board Members Dr. Miles Day & Dr. Larry Driver!

On May 4, 2019, during the 2019 ASIPP Annual Conference Drs. Day & Driver were presented with awards. 

Dr. Day (pictured above) received the 2019 Raj Excellence Award and Dr. Larry Driver (pictured below) received the 2019 Racz Excellence Award!

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CDC Advises Against Misapplication of the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

Image result for cdclogo

CDC Advises Against Misapplication of the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

Some policies, practices attributed to the Guideline are inconsistent with its recommendations


 

Media Statement

Embargoed Until: Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 5 PM, EDT
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286


 

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TPS Lectures During TexMed

Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Attend the Texas Pain Society Lectures During TexMed 2019


Date:
Friday, May 17, 2019

Location: Hilton Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas - West Wing, Coronado A
Time: 7:3oam - 11:30am


Pain Medicine Program Agenda

7:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions

7:30 AM: (ETHICS) Primary Care Pain Medicine: State-of-the-Art 2019 
Presented by Brian Bruel, MD, Director, Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston


8:00 AM: (ETHICS) Texas Medical Board Updates & Top 50 Pitfalls 
Presented by Sherif Zafraan, MD, President, Texas Medical Board, Houston 









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DEA Take Back - April 2019

DEA National RX Takeback

On April 27, 2019 at 10:00 AM

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Click here for collection site locators, stats on past take back days, PSAs you can use on your website and more.

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US warns docs not to abruptly halt opioid pain treatment

From AP News

US warns docs not to abruptly halt opioid pain treatment
April 9, 2019

FILE - This Aug. 29, 2018, file photo shows an arrangement of prescription oxycodone pills in New York. U.S. health officials Tuesday, April 9. 2019, warned doctors not to abruptly stop prescribing opioid painkillers to patients who are taking them for chronic pain ailments, such as backaches. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials Tuesday warned doctors not to abruptly stop prescribing opioid painkillers to patients who are taking them for chronic pain ailments, such as backaches.

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CDC Clarifies Pain Guideline Not Intended to Deny Opioids Access to Cancer Patients/Survivors

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April 9, 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a key clarification on its Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The clarification comes as a result of a collaborative effort by ASCO, the American Society of Hematology (ASH), CDC, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to clarify CDC’s opioid prescribing guideline to ensure appropriate implementation for people with cancer, cancer survivors, and patients with sickle cell disease.

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