CDC & HHS Request for Comment Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

It is vitally important for the members of the Texas Pain Society to submit comments to CDC & HHS by June 16, 2020.

You can use the TPS template letter here

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment concerning perspectives on and experiences with pain and pain management, including but not limited to the benefits and harms of opioid use, from patients with acute or chronic pain, patients' family members and/or caregivers, and health care providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose)—hereafter called “stakeholders.” CDC will use these comments to inform its understanding of stakeholders' values and preferences related to pain and pain management options.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/17/2020-08127/management-of-acute-and-chronic-pain-request-for-comment?deliveryName=Share%20Your%20Perspective%3A%20Management%20of%20Acute%20and%20Chronic%20Pain%20%28US&cid=em1003562&utm_source=sfmc_email&utm_medium=email-1st_party&utm_campaign=nmd-general-us-pain_medicine-general&utm_content=n-n-n-n&sid=0032K00002O0WULQA3&id_mc=552681762

Below is an excerpt from an article published on January 15, 2020 in the Texas Society of Anesthesiologist Newsletter: 

On the Shoulders of Giants: Legends of Texas Anesthesiology Gabor B. Racz, M.D., ChB, DABPM, FIPP

Grover E. Murray Professor

Attorney General Ken Paxton Issues Statement on Chapter 11

Bankruptcy Filing of Purdue Pharma

September 6, 2019 marked another successful year of partnership between Texas Pain Society & Texas Society of Anesthesiologist!

Each year TPS presents a 3 hour parallel session regarding pain medicine during the TSA Annual Conference.

This year we had Drs. Max Eckmann, C.M. Schade and Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta, MD representing TPS and an interactive crowd that was very engaged in the current standards and best practices for treating chronic pain patients. 

Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentations

CALL FOR CASE STUDIES: The Texas Pain Society invites members and others to submit case studies to be considered for presentation at the 11th Annual Scientific Meeting.

 Click here to submit your case study online

Click here to download a paper copy for submission

 Schade Hill ‐ Public Policy Pain Champion Award - Representative JD Sheffield, MD

Dr. J.D. Sheffield was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012 to serve the citizens of Texas House District 59, which includes Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba, and Somervell Counties. He was re-elected to his 4th term in the 2018 March Primary. 

Dr. Sheffield has been practicing family medicine in and around Gatesville for over 25 years. As the only rural physician in the Texas Legislature, Dr. Sheffield has been honored to serve on the House Public Health Committee for all three terms, and currently serves as Vice-Chairman.

Texas Medical Association
By Joey Berlin
September 12, 2019

The state attorney general has agreed with the Texas Medical Association in an official opinion that keeps certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) from administering anesthesia without physician delegation. 

In the opinion, Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed three questions from Sherif Zaafran, MD, president of the Texas Medical Board (TMB): 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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 

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.

From AP News

US warns docs not to abruptly halt opioid pain treatment
By MATTHEW PERRONE 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.

April 9, 2019

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

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.