Filtered by author: Jennifer Schlabach Clear Filter

CDC rolls out the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain

New guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to help patients and clinicians make informed, patient-centered decisions about effective pain care.

Pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care here in the United States. All patients with pain should receive safe, effective, and informed pain care options. CDC has released a new guideline to support patients and clinicians in reaching their goals for pain care and function.

CDC’s 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, which updates and replaces the 2016 CDC Guideline, is a clinical tool to improve communication between clinicians and patients and empower them to make collaborative, individualized, and informed decisions related to pain care. It provides 12 voluntary recommendations for clinicians providing pain care and includes expanded guidance for treatment of acute and subacute pain. The 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline incorporates new evidence to help primary care and other clinicians weigh the risks and benefits of a full range of pain treatment options, including prescription opioids.

The release of the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline is an important step towards promoting safe and effective pain care. Share and promote the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline and related resources:

Additional Overdose and Opioid Resources

Where are they now? See Previous Winners!

 Where are they now? Read what previous Case Study and Scholarship winners have been up to...

Previous Winner of the 2020 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentation and 2021 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Scholarship

George Polson MD Case Study and Scholarship WinnerGeorge Polson MD
Case Study (2020) – PM&R Residency at Baylor College of Medicine
Scholarship (2021) – PM&R Residency at Baylor College of Medicine (Accepted to MD Anderson Pain Medicine Fellowship)

In what ways have you used what you presented in your recent practice?
While the case study I presented involved the use of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain, during my fellowship training we have found a multitude of other clinical uses for this new technology, all of which ultimately has led to better patient outcomes. It is exciting to be a part of all the innovation and treatment options that neuromodulation has to offer!

What professional development have you gone through since your award? 
              As of July 2022, I have begun my Pain Fellowship training at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Where are you working now? 
              The Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a Fellow going into PM? 
Take advantage of opportunities such as Texas Pain Society’s Annual Conference! The ability to meet various individuals within the practice of pain management, all gathered in a familiar setting here in the great state of Texas (Hook em Horns!), has definitely served as the foundation of many relationships that I will continue to hold on to as I begin my own career within this field.
 

Previous Winner of the 2021 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentation

Grayson Koval MD Case Study and Scholarship WinnerGrayson Koval, MD

Pain fellow at Texas Tech when award was received. 

In what ways have you used what you presented in your recent practice?
I have used my case study to remind myself of the importance of being a clinician who thoroughly evaluates his patients. 

What professional development have you gone through since your award? 
Since last year, I have finished my fellowship, been board certified in anesthesia, and started a private practice job in Midland, TX. 

Where are you working now? Midland Spine Institute in Midland, TX.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a Fellow going into PM? Take advantage of every learning opportunity in fellowship
 


Previous Winner of the 2021 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentation


Adedeji Olusanya DO, MPH Case Study WinnerAdedeji Olusanya DO, MPH
  • At University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio when award was received. 

  • In what ways have you used what you presented in your recent practice? 
    I was able to talk about spinal stenosis and different treatment approaches on rotations 

  • What professional development have you gone through since your award?  Since the last conference, I have been able to attend more national pain conferences where I was able to net work with other fellows, and pain physicians. I also have and the opportunity to join numerous of webinars where I was able to expand my knowledge in pain medicine, patient management, and new innovative procedure to help shape the future of pain medicine.

    Where are you working now? Right now I am PGY-3  at university of Texas Health science Center at San Antonio. This year, I will be applying for the next pain fellowship cycle.

    What's one piece of advice you'd give to a Fellow going into PM? 
    I wouldn’t imagine that I could give a Fellow much advice. But what I would say to a resident or medical student that is interested in pain, is to get into research early! Also networking while attending pain conferences is vital. Interventional pain is a small field, it is important to know your colleagues!

 Previous Winner of the  2021 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Scholarship

Vishal Bansal, MD Scholarship WinnerVishal Bansal, MD 

When award was received, Dr. Bansal was 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 

What professional development have you gone through since your award? 

I've been fortunate to attend the TPS for the past 3 years due to the assistance of the scholarship award. It has been a rewarding experience for me as a resident due to its educational sessions and the ability to network with pain physicians specific to Texas where I plan on practicing in the future. I am applying for pain fellowships this year, and plan to attend this year's TPS again to further network and keep myself up to date. I've been able to follow up with some of the attendees to get mentorship and additional clinical experience and prepare me for my future transition into pain medicine. It has also given me exposure to the broad scope of pain medicine that I have not seen in my residency training and sparking my interest into neuromodulation. 

Where are you working now? 
Resident Physician (PGY-3) and will be applying for Pain Medicine fellowship

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a Fellow going into PM?
One piece of advice I would have for residents considering pain medicine fellowship would be to get involved with research and attend regional and national conferences in Pain Medicine. Research or publications is often a great way for yourself to get familiar with a particular topic and to also form connections with other pain physicians. Conferences are a great way to meet future colleagues and learn about the current practices and latest advances in pain medicine, making you well equipped to start your journey into pain medicine fellowship. 


 Previous Winner of the 2019, 2020 & 2021 Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentation

Joseph Liao MD Case Study and Scholarship WinnerJoseph Liao, M.D.

When award was received, Dr. Liao was at the University of Texas - Houston, Department of Anesthesiology

In what ways have you used what you presented in your recent practice? The majority of my studies involved interventional procedures in the treatment of refractory pain conditions. Presenting complex scenarios and receiving feedback from the physician leaders in Texas have shaped how I approach patient care, especially when it comes to patient selection and determining what next steps may possibly be offered to patients. The moderators and seasoned pain physicians at Texas Pain Society have a wealth of knowledge and invaluable experience.

What professional development have you gone through since your award? 
I am an anesthesiologist and pain management fellow at Stanford University. My goal is to offer my patients quality, best-in-class treatments. I am also working towards being more involved in industry and physician leadership. 
























































Read More

TPS Board Member Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta, MD

From what drew her to the pain management industry to her favorite part of being a pain doctor, Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta opens up in our latest profile feature!

Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta, MD is a Texas Pain Society Board Member and professor for the Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Area of Specialty & Special Interest: Cancer pain, opioid addiction

What got you into pain medicine? The blend of pharmacology and interventions! 

Read More

TPS Board Member Carlos Omar Viesca, MD

Texas Pain Society Board Member Carlos Omar Viesca, MD shares how he got involved in Pain Management. 

Carlos Omar Viesca, MD is a Texas Pain Society Board Member and physician for Interventional Pain Medicine Institute.


   1250 E. Cliff Dr., Suite 3D
    El Paso, TX 79912-6431

Read More

Open Payments Review & Dispute Ends May 15

You have until May 15 to review and dispute the program year 2021 Open Payments data before CMS publishes it in June. Reviewing your data is voluntary but strongly encouraged. Log into the Open Payments system to review your data. If you have a dispute, work directly with the reporting entity to resolve it; we don’t mediate or facilitate disputes.

Accessing Your Account:

  • If you don’t have an account, register in the Open Payments system
  • If you haven’t accessed your account in 60 days or more, unlock your account in the CMS Portal
  • If you haven’t accessed your account in 180 days or more, call the Open Payments Help Desk

More Information:

 

GOLDCARD RULES Comments DUE & AMA Physician Survey

Deadlines this Week

Written comments May 9/ Oral May 12

Members Sought for the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel

If you’re interested in issues involving the disclosure of risks and hazards related to medical care and surgical procedures, you may want to apply to be a member of the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint a physician and an attorney licensed to practice in Texas to the panel to serve a term expiring Aug. 31, 2028.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., May 27.

HHSC will consider applicants' qualifications, background and interest in serving on the panel and will try to choose panel members who represent the diversity of all Texans. For this reason, HHSC considers applicants' ethnicity, gender and geographic location.

A Texas Medical Disclosure Panel member must regularly participate in panel meetings. They may also have to take part in subpanel meetings, projects and presentations. Panel meetings are held about once every three months in Austin or at the call of the presiding officer. To the extent permitted by the current state budget, a panel member may be repaid for their travel expenses to and from meetings if money is available and in accordance with the HHSC Travel Policy.

Read More

First Ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day

r National Fentanyl Awareness Day

The first-ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day launches Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Download Social Media Assets   #NationalFentanylAwarenessDay #FentanylAwareness Download Flyers for your Office 

Visit the National Fentanyl Awareness Day website for more information.You can find additional social media, draft emails to share with partners, key messages, and more using the official toolkit.

Founded by parents who have lost loved ones to the drug overdose epidemic, National Fentanyl Awareness Day is supported by a group of subject matter experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families, and elected officials who are coming together to amplify the issue via social media.

Read More

#DEATakeBack Day April 30th

Participate in the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day | GUIDE,  Inc.

The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Encourage the gathering of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs to dispose of safely during the upcoming event.

When: Saturday,  April 30th 2022 – 10 AM to 2 PM

Read More

Survey: Healthcare Professionals Asked About Prescription Drug Affordability

Survey: Healthcare Professionals Asked About Prescription Drug Affordability

The Health and Human Services Commission is conducting a brief survey of healthcare professionals to learn more about prescription drug affordability for Texans. The goal of the survey is to determine cost-prohibitive medications and the barriers people face in affording their medications.  

The 2022-23 General Appropriations Act and House Bill (H.B.) 18, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, established the Texas Cares Program to provide uninsured individuals access to prescription drug benefits. The Health and Human Services Commission is conducting a survey of healthcare professionals to learn more about the challenges their clients/ patients face to afford their medications. This survey should take 5-10 minutes. Your response will be used to help inform the design of the program.

If you have any questions about the survey, please email us at: [email protected]     

The survey will remain open until May 4, 2022.

Take Survey

DEA Registration

Dea Update

Federal Register Notice

Requiring Online Submission of Applications for and Renewals of DEA Registration (PDF)

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This rulemaking amends the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) regulations to now require all applications for DEA registrations, and renewal of those registrations, to be submitted online.

DATES: This final rule is effective May 11, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott A. Brinks, Regulatory Drafting and Policy Support Section, Diversion Control Division, Drug Enforcement Administration; Mailing Address: 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22152; Telephone: (571) 776–2265.

TPS President speaks with TMA about access to Naloxone

Physicians Call for Better Access to Naloxone, Treatment Programs for Opioids

Read the TMA article 

2022 Texas Workers' Compensation Conference

 

Division of Workers' Compensation banner

conference logo

Registration Opens Texas Workers' Compensation Conference

registration opens april 4

Join us June 27-29 in Austin as we explore emerging trends in comp, and the people and connections that make the system work.

See this year's agenda on the conference webpage.

social media

Follow us on social media

Read More

CMS OPEN PAYMENTS

REPORTING ENTITIES: DATA SUBMISSION IS OPEN!

Program Year 2021 data submission is open now through March 31, 2022. For details about registration, recertification and data submission, visit the Resources for Reporting Entities page.

More information

TMB Survey Due April 29th, 2022

Take TMB's survey!

TMB is requesting your participation in a very brief customer service survey. Every two years, all state agencies including the Texas Medical Board, are required to conduct a survey about various agency operations. We want to obtain your feedback to help us understand your impression of the TMB’s usage of video conferencing platforms and TMB in general.

 

The survey consists of 10 multiple choice questions, will take just a few minutes to complete, and is completely anonymous. The survey is available on Survey Monkey via this link: TMB Customer Service Survey.

We respectfully request your participation in the survey by Friday, April 29th, 2022. Your feedback is very important to us and the results of the survey will be published on the agency website as part of the 2022 Strategic Planning process.

Criminals Extorting Healthcare Professionals

FBI Liaison Information Report about Criminals Extorting Medical Professionals by Impersonating Medical Licensing Boards and the FBI. Click link below.

Criminals Extorting Healthcare Professionals

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Begins March 1st in Texas

Physician applicants outside of Texas, and Texas physicians wishing to practice in another member state, can begin submitting applications to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC) on Tuesday, March 1. 

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is a voluntary, expedited pathway to licensure for qualifying physicians who wish to practice in Compact member states. 

For details on qualifying for Compact licensure, and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit: https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/interstate-medical-licensure-compact  

Are you Hiring?

Did you know that TPS has it's very own Career Center?

If you're looking to fill a position, you need to look into this great resource that expands to various medical fields all across the US!

In addition to this resource, we want to help you get the word out. Let us know what positions you're looking for by filling out the form through the link below. 

Open Positions for Members

Comments Requested- CDC Moves To Relax Opioid Prescription Guidance

Below is a recap of the release announced on Forbes. Find the Proposed 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids here. TPS will submit a formal response on behalf of TPS Members.

Send in your comments directly to TPS

The Centers for Disease Control proposed pulling back some of the strict guidelines for prescribing opioids in a draft of recommendations released Thursday, a move that would loosen some of the restrictions put in place in 2016 to help mitigate the opioid epidemic, in an attempt to allow chronic pain patients to receive more flexible treatment.

KEY FACTS

Proposed changes to the CDC’s guidance include giving doctors more leeway by slashing dose ceilings for patients and no longer suggesting they limit opioid treatment for acute pain to three days. Doctors would be advised to only prescribe opioids for painful, traumatic injuries, like major burns and those sustained in car accidents, and start patients off on low doses of immediate-release pills, according to the New York Times.

To ease less intense conditions—like episodic migraines and knee, neck and lower back pain—the new recommendations suggest employing treatments like exercise, acupuncture, heat therapy and over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen. 

Read More

Annual Workers’ Compensation Non-Subscriber Reporting

 Annual Workers’ Compensation Non-Subscriber Reporting 

Texas employers that do not provide workers’ compensation coverage must file DWC Form-005, Employer Notice of No Coverage or Termination of Coverage

This form:

  • lets DWC know that an employer has opted out of the workers’ compensation system or ended coverage; and
  • must be sent in each year between February 1 and April 30. 

Employers that do not file this form on time may face penalties under state law. 

Read More