AAPM&R's Efforts in the National Pain Strategy, Opioids, ACL Management, and More

April 10, 2016

• On March 18, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a National Pain Strategy, outlining the federal government’s first coordinated plan for reducing the burden of chronic pain. AAPM&R provided insights to the development of the National Pain Strategy. A current assessment of our comments in relation to the final version of the National Pain Strategy can be viewed at www.aapmr.org.​

• On March 15, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finalized itsguidance for primary care physicians prescribing opioids to adults for chronic pain in outpatient settings. AAPM&R's Clinical Practice Guideline Committee’s comments on the proposed guidelines can be viewed at www.aapmr.org.​

• Dr. Kevin Vincent was selected to serve on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Performance Measures Work Group that will develop clinical performance measures on the management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL).​

• Dr. Amy Houtrow was selected to serve on the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Child Neurology Quality Measure Development Project.​

• Dr. John Melvin and Dr. Kenneth Adams were accepted to serve on the RAND Corporation focus group for the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (the IMPACT Act). ​

• The Council of State Society Presidents and CAC Representatives held a conference call on March 3, 2016. The Council discussed key legislative and regulatory issues that continue to occur at the state level, including scope of practice and opioid abuse.