Action Needed NOW!
URGENT, PLEASE READ EVERY WORD
Fellow Warriors,
So many of us are suffering the consequences of the crackdown on opioid prescribing, and since the release of the 2016 CDC Prescribing Guideline many advocates have worked feverishly to REVERSE the harmful effects on those of us in the pain community. It's taken an enormous amount of time and effort, but everything is finally falling into place.
This is a significant milestone for the pain community, and gives us the footing to take the necessary steps to actually garner the respect and attention we deserve.
The following REPORTS & NOTICES issued by various government agencies clearly ACKNOWLEDGE the urgency of our plight:
- Human Rights Watch Report entitled “Not Allowed to Be Compassionate”
- AMA Resolution 235 (Pages 24-28)
- CDC Press Release
- Clarification Letter from the CDC
- FDA Drug Safety Notice
- CDC Response to HP3 Letter
- HHS Pain Management Task Force Final Report
These Reports and Notices lay the groundwork to ensure that our Policy Makers put protections in place for both physicians and pain patients, and to ultimately implement a National Pain Policy that clearly defines and stipulates such protections.
We need YOU to take immediate action in order to get this information into the hands of Your State and Federal Representatives & Regulatory Agencies.
Reports to Send to Representatives & Regulatory Agencies
FDA Safety notice
Clarification of CDC Guideline
Clarification of CDC Guideline
The FDA has acknowledged the harms from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medications. They are now requiring a label change to ensure gradual individualized tapers, when necessary.
Clarification of CDC Guideline
Clarification of CDC Guideline
Clarification of CDC Guideline
EXCERPT: “The Guideline is NOT intended to deny any patients who suffer with chronic pain from opioid therapy as an option for pain management... Clinical decision-making should be based on the relationship between the clinician and patient...”
AMA Resolution 235
Clarification of CDC Guideline
Human Rights Watch Report
Excerpt: "AMA advocate that no entity should use MME (morphine milligram equivalents) thresholds as anything more than guidance, and physicians should not be subject to professional discipline, loss of board certification, loss of clinical privileges, criminal prosecution, civil liability, or other penalties or practice limitations solely for prescribing opioids at a quantitative level above the MME thresholds found in the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids.”
Human Rights Watch Report
HHS Task Force Final Report
Human Rights Watch Report
The 99-page report, “Not Allowed to Be Compassionate: Chronic Pain, the Overdose Crisis, and Unintended Harms in the US” documents how some of these actions have had an unintended and harmful chilling effect, making doctors fear repercussions for prescribing even to patients with severe chronic pain who have a legitimate medical need for prescription opioids'
NAAG Letter of Contempt
HHS Task Force Final Report
HHS Task Force Final Report
NAAG sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, expressing concern about the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Draft Report, which deviates from CDC guidelines aimed at reducing opioid misuse.
HHS Task Force Final Report
HHS Task Force Final Report
HHS Task Force Final Report
The Task Force Report emphasizes:
• Individualized, patient-centered care fostering a therapeutic alliance between the patient and clinician.
• Multidisciplinary approaches using treatment modalities and the biopsychosocial model to pain care.
• Consideration of special patient populations, as well as comorbid conditions that can accompany complex pain conditions.
Meet with YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
Call to schedule a meeting Today
Please use our handy Legislative Outreach Kit & ask for assistance if necessary. The only way to change the current pathway which has created a hostile regulatory environment is to GET INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ASAP
CLICK HERE TO LOCATE YOUR STATE & FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES
Legislative Outreach Kit
Instructions , Tips, and Links to locate & Contact Your State and Federal Representatives & Regulatory Agencies
CALL TO ACTION
We need to get the HHS Pain Task Force's Report into the hands of EVERY State & Federal Legislator, State Regulators, and Media ASAP!
There are a couple of ways to do this:
You can share the link to the REPORT with Members of Congress & National/Local Media contacts' Facebook/Twitter pages (See Links Below)
Also, you should CALL your Representatives & ask for the Health Care Staffer's Email address and tell them to expect to receive an urgent email with the Task Force Report.
Find Your State & Federal Representatives HERE
TASK FORCE REPORT: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pmtf-final-report-2019-05-23.pdf
List of Twitter & Facebook Accounts for U.S. CONGRESS:
U.S. Senators on Twitter:
U.S. Representatives on Twitter:
As always be respectful, but persistent.
USE HASHTAGS:
#UntreatedPainKills
#SuicideDueToPain
#SavingUsToDeath
#PainAwarenessMonth #endpainpatientabuse #illicitFENTANYLcrisis #PainPatientsVote
#OurPain