CDC Seeks Individual Perspectives on the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain – Comments due Aug. 21

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced an opportunity for stakeholders to share their individual perspectives on and experiences with pain and pain management, including but not limited to the benefits and harms of opioid use. Patients with acute or chronic pain, patients’ family members and/or caregivers, and healthcare providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose) will be considered for participation.

CDC will hold approximately 100 individuals, 45- to 60-minute conversations with selected stakeholders over the phone or through an internet-enabled virtual platform. Input gathered through these conversations will help inform CDC’s understanding of stakeholders’ values and preferences relate to pain and pain management and will complement its ongoing work to update the 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

The conversations are intended to supplement the written comments on the same subject, gathered through a June docket. AAPM responded to this initial call, submitting feedback on the following topic areas:

• Opioids for chronic non-cancer pain; appropriate and safe opioid analgesic prescribing for chronic pain
• Opioids for acute, post-surgical pain; risks of prolonged opioid prescribing
• Opioid taper indications/strategies
• Interdisciplinary pain management best practices
• Barriers for multidisciplinary chronic pain management
• Pain management education
• Pain care measurement and monitoring strategies
• Substance use disorder (SUD) screening, prevention and treatment; co-managing pain and SUD
• Mental health care access
• Pain management research and funding

Persons interested in participating in the current call for comments should contact CDC no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT August 21, 2020.