HHS Pain Management Task Force calls for public comment on draft report

As part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Pain Management Task Force released a draft report, Pain Management Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies, and Recommendations in late December. The federal advisory committee is opening a public comment period through March 28, 2019.

The report highlights gaps or inconsistencies in current pain management care and proposes new best practices and recommendation for pain management, both chronic and acute pain as required by CARA.

Integrative medicine has a strong presence in the preliminary recommendations, which suggests balanced pain management based on a biopsychosocial model of care, and an individualized patient-centered approach.

The report also calls for a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain, which may include medications, restorative movement therapies, complementary and integrative health, and behavioral health/psychological interventions.

The task force consists of 29 experts with experience across disciplines of pain management, patient advocacy, substance use disorders, mental health, and minority health. After the comment period has closed, the task force will finalize and submit the recommendations to Congress.

This is an opportunity for integrative practitioners to make an impact in national healthcare policy. Do your part—click here to review the draft and offer your feedback today.

If you would be interested in sharing your comment with our integrative healthcare community, please e-mail editor Katherine Rushlau at [email protected]