September 2006 E-Newsletter

Report Card Gives States Good Grades on Pain Policies

DEA Proposes Rule Allowing Multiple Scripts

Eight State Pain Initiatives Receive LAF/ ASPI Grants

Maine PI Produces Physician Self-Study Resource

ONS Announces Cancer Symptom Management Research Grant

RSDSA Offers Resource Directory

Silent Pain Sufferers, 1 in 5 Do Not Report Pain

Managed Care Unaware of Cost Savings of Pain Management

REPORT CARD GIVES STATES GOOD GRADES ON PAIN POLICIES

The Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG) at the University of Wisconsin this week released new editions of Achieving Balance in Federal and State Pain Policy: A Guide to Evaluation (Third edition) and, Achieving Balance in State Pain Policy: A Progress Report Card (Second edition). The reports evaluate and track the progress of government policies that influence pain management, and show that most states have above average policies. The ASPI encourages State Pain Initiatives to use these valuable resources in their efforts to remove barriers to pain care that continue to exist in state laws and regulations. To view or download the reports, as well as a national press release and Frequently Asked Questions, visit the PPSG website at: http://www.painpolicy.wisc.edu/ Also, read the ASPI’s comments on the progress of state pain policies at: http://www.ASPI.wisc.edu/

DEA PROPOSES RULE ALLOWING MULTIPLE SCRIPTS

The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule that would allow practitioners to issue multiple prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances on the same day with instructions to fill on different dates as long as the total amount prescribed does not exceed a 90-day supply. The DEA proposed this rule in response to the ASPI’s and other pain management advocates’ concerns that the DEA’s previous interpretation that this type of practice violates the federal Controlled Substances Act's "no refill" provision for prescriptions of Sched II drugs would negatively impact patient care. In addition to the proposed rule, the DEA also issued a policy statement on the use of controlled substances for pain and released a Practitioner's Manual to provide information to health care professionals about the federal Controlled Substances Act. The public may comment on the proposed rule before November 6, 2006. You can read these documents on the "What’s New" section of DEAs website at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/new.htm

EIGHT STATE PAIN INITIATIVES RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION AND ASPI

State Pain Initiatives from Northern and Southern California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, and New Hampshire, were selected to receive grants to carry out projects directed at overcoming barriers to pain relief at the state and local level and improve the quality of life for people living with cancer. The grants are part of a national partnership between the ASPI and LAF. Visit http://www.ASPI.wisc.edu to read the news release that describes the projects the State Pain Initiatives will pursue with the funding.

MAINE PI PRODUCES PHYSICIAN SELF STUDY RESOURCE

The Maine Pain Initiative, in association with the Maine Hospice Council, recently released "Pain Management at the End of Life: A Physician's Self Study Packet." This innovative self-directed CME accredited program was designed in response to the fact that while many health professionals identify a significant need for and interest in pain management education, they often are unable to attend conferences or seminars. The national office of the ASPI provided funding support. State Pain Initiatives are encouraged to replicate this project in their own states. For more information or to order your copy, please go to http://www.mainehospicecouncil.org/SelfStudyPacket.htm

ONS ANNOUNCES SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT RESEARCH GRANT

The Oncology Nursing Society Foundation is accepting applications for a $45,000 two-year grant to support research activities in the area of cancer symptom management. Letters of intent are due by November 14 and applications are due December 12. Membership in ONS is not required. For more information go to: http://www.ons.org/awards/foundawards/majorGrants.shtml

RSDSA PUBLISHES DIRECTORY FOR PEOPLE IN FINANCIAL NEED

The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA, has published In Pain and Agonizing Over the Bills, a resource directory for people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) who suffer financial devastation as a result of their persistent and often disabling pain. The directory has sections on Government assistance, Getting help for living expenses, Patient Assistance Programs, Health Services, Transportation, Clinical Trials, Centers for Independent Living, and more. The publication is available free of charge from the RSDSA office, phone: 877-662-7737, or it can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.rsds.org/Whatsnew.html

SILENT PAIN SUFFERERS, 1 IN 5 DO NOT REPORT PAIN

A survey published in the February 2006 edition of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports that more than 1 in 5 (22.4%) of persons with chronic pain do not inform their physicians of their pain. These“silent pain sufferers” are unknown to physicians and therefore represent an unreported patient group with an unmet need for pain care. Read the article at http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com

MANAGED CARE ORGS UNAWARE OF COSTS OF PAIN

Interviews of executives of managed care organizations in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Pain Initiative showed that none of the six companies interviewed had systematically tracked data or had processes in place to allow them to track, analyze or trend data specific to pain management. Inadequate insurance coverage is a barrier to pain management, and the interviews reveal a need for health insurers to assess the cost effectiveness of various approaches to pain management. Visit www.ASPI.wisc.edu for a link to the full article published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal.

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