Posts Tagged ‘cdc guideline’
Consequences of the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
In my view, it was a mistake for the CDC to publish the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in 2016.
Read MoreA Veteran’s Story in His Own Words
Policymakers have changed the way patients who have chronic pain are treated. The 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain has had a domino effect on policies throughout the country. Unfortunately, veterans have been particularly affected. I have heard of many vets being told they no longer would be prescribed opioids or benzodiazepines.…
Read MoreWhen Will Forced Tapering of Opioids End?
Will the DEA stop pursuing doctors who treat pain patients with levels of opioids that exceed the guideline’s recommendations? For Larry and other pain patients who have been forcibly tapered, the answer may be a matter of life and death.
Read MoreJournalists Jacob Sullum and Pat Anson Report on Two Important Topics
Medicare Rule Will Create New Challenges for Chronic Pain Patients Jacob Sullum recently wrote an article, “Medicare Rule Will Create New Challenges for Chronic Pain Patients,” for Practical Pain Management about the ways in which the pending Medicare changes will adversely affect chronic pain patients. As he explains, the new Medicare rule is intended to…
Read MoreUtah Opioid Crisis Summit
University of Utah’s Summit Addressed State’s Opioid Problem On April 23, 2018, the University of Utah’s summit convened to discuss how to solve the state’s opioid problem. The summit’s goal was to identify barriers faced by health care providers and others in providing effective treatment of pain and addiction. The participants’ diverse professional backgrounds provided…
Read MoreUnintended Consequences of Limiting Prescribed Opioids
Arbitrarily Reducing Opioids Payers, legislators, and healthcare systems are implementing limits on how many pills may be dispensed to people with pain in an effort to curb the opioid crisis. CVS announced this past September they would limit the number of pills new patients with acute pain can obtain to a seven-day supply. Last July,…
Read MoreWhat the CDC Can Learn From Utah
Opioid Overdoses Increase Despite CDC’s Efforts Everyone can agree on a few things. First, we have an opioid epidemic. Second, we want to mitigate it. Third, the efforts we’ve seen at the national level to ameliorate the crisis are not working. As USA Today recently reported, the opioid epidemic is getting worse instead of better.…
Read MoreThe Backlash of Government’s Efforts to Curb Opioid Prescribing
Turn the Tide Campaign Brings Unintended Consequences It began just about a year ago, when the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain provided “recommendations for primary care clinicians who were prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care.” The emphasis is mine. The goal, as the…
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