The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released proposed guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. The Montana Medical Association is gathering comments on the guidelines from physician members to potentially submit feedback before the public comment period ends on Jan. 13 2016. The MMA is requesting members submit their comments to Jean Branscum at [email protected] by Monday, January 11th.
CDC Proposed Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
AMA Letter to CDC on Opioid Guidelines
In an email that went out the CDC offered this comment, “CDC is developing an opioid prescribing guideline to help primary care providers offer safer, more effective care for patients with chronic pain and help reduce misuse, abuse, and overdose from these drugs. The guideline will provide recommendations to primary care providers about the appropriate prescribing of opioid pain medications to improve pain management and patient safety. Recommendations focus on the use of opioids in treating chronic pain (i.e., pain lasting longer than three months or past the time of normal tissue healing). The guideline is not intended for patients who are in active cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care.”
Public comments for docket #CDC-2015-0112 can be voiced here.