While Congress continues its work on opioid-related legislation, the Trump Administration has increased its focus on ways to not only address opioid misuse and abuse, but also on the nexus of pain management and the opioid crisis. On May 30 and 31, the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force held its
inaugural meeting.
The task force was established as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 and is represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Veterans Affairs Administration, and the Department of Defense. It is charged with proposing updates to best practices and recommendations regarding pain management and submitting them to the relevant agencies and general public. The task force is expected to release a preliminary report in August, a draft report in October, and a report for public comment in January 2019.
During the meeting, there were several panels related to the science behind pain, clinical guidelines, and the need to shift the culture of pain management. There was also significant focus on ensuring patients continue to have access to clinically appropriate and necessary medications as well as the need to remove barriers, including those imposed by the federal government and insurance companies, to non-opioid pain management therapies. Discussion also centered on consideration of special populations (e.g., children, minority populations) and how mental health and addiction interrelate.