Attn: Those Interested in NIH HEAL Initiative Funding

As we are awaiting passage of the appropriations bill that will finalize the NIH budget, it is important to know that new Request for Applications (RFAs) are likely coming soon and will require swift action when they do.  This year’s anticipated appropriation includes a sizable $270M increase in HEAL Initiative funding. To ensure potential applicants aren’t caught off guard with quick turnaround for submission (a timeline caused due to the stalled legislation), NIH is working to apprise interested parties that new proposals may be released soon. If this extra funding is approved, it will have to be spent by the end of the 2022 fiscal year.

Numerous important research concepts have been cleared for funding, pending appropriation, at a recent NIH HEAL Initiative meeting. Likely-to-be-funded concepts can be found here. RFAs for these concepts are not expected to be released before late February.

One concept that AACIPM is particularly excited about will support research projects to embed effective coordinated pain care into health care systems. The goal is to improve pain relief and health outcomes through coordinated interventions such as medication or injections provided by a single health care provider. The coordinated care strategy could be centered in primary care settings with an integrated referral system to specialty care or could be centered in specialty care programs and coordinated with primary care. NIH has already listed many open funding opportunities related to pain, including:

• Advancing Health Equity & Pain Comorbidities (LOI Due 2/22)
• Joint Health and Function (LOI Due 3/11)
• Coordinating Center for National Pain Scientists Career Development (LOI Due 2/24)
• Discovery and Validation of Novel Pain Treatment (LOI Due 2/02, 5/02)
• Data and Methods to Stem Opioid Epidemic (LOI Due 2/10)

National Updates

CDC Likely to Release Updated Opioid Guideline for Public Comment in Coming Weeks

According to a recent email update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency is finalizing updates to the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (2016). The agency is likely to release the updated draft guideline for review in the coming weeks, which will be posted to the Federal Register for a 60-day public comment period.

To encourage thoughtful public comments, CDC is urging stakeholders to alert their networks about the impending release and to review their process for updating the opioid prescribing guideline.

CDC Outlines Standards Used in Development of Evidence-Based Guidelines

The CDC has released “Standards Required for the Development of CDC Evidence-Based Guidelines” in order to encourage public trust. The document explains that the methods and processes used in CDC guidelines development should follow universally accepted standards, and it covers topics such as: guideline scoping, soliciting external input, summarizing evidence, and crafting recommendations.

Call for Nominations: NASEM Needs Experts for Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce Committee

The Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is searching for experts to serve on the consensus study committee on The Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce and Its Impact on Child Health and Well-Being. Volunteer experts are needed to represent: general pediatrics and pediatric sub-specialties; pediatric research, clinician training and research; pediatric workforce development; behavioral and mental health; health disparities; health care finance; health care policy; and other relevant areas critical to the success of the study.

Nominations are due by February 4, 2022 at 5PM ET, and should be submitted via this online form or sent directly to the study director (tlustig@nas.edu).

VA Introduces “Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Pain” Podcast

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced “Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Pain”, a podcast that hopes to offer fresh perspectives on chronic pain management and various interventions, discussing self-care and practical strategies for Veterans and their well-being. The podcast aims to provide skills and knowledge that encourages listeners to view healing as a journey that requires ongoing engagement, and it will feature topics complementary and integrative treatments that can be incorporated into daily life to reduce the impact of chronic pain and improve overall health. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced “Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Pain”, a podcast that hopes to offer fresh perspectives on chronic pain management and various interventions, discussing self-care and practical strategies for Veterans and their well-being. The podcast aims to provide skills and knowledge that encourages listeners to view healing as a journey that requires ongoing engagement, and it will feature topics complementary and integrative treatments that can be incorporated into daily life to reduce the impact of chronic pain and improve overall health.

ICYMI

AACIPM 2021 Highlights: Year-End Review

AACIPM’s 2021 Highlights

AACIPM connects multi-stakeholders with a shared interest in modifying policy and payment design to improve access to whole person pain care.

Thank you to all our advisors, partners and collaborators for a great year!

• NATIONAL & STATE POLICY
• ADVOCACY, RESEARCH & RESOURCES
• PARTNERSHIPS & AWARENESS
• INNOVATION & PROGRESS
• EQUITY ISSUES

Message from the Director

Happy 2022 to all of you! 

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to look at our 2021 year-end review and think about all the collaborative work that we’ve accomplished together.  I continue to be amazed at the quality work being developed by so many of our partners and believe strongly that connecting those dots will keep moving all of us forward. As we enter another year, I am looking forward to AACIPM co-creating more practical resources that can assist multi-stakeholders interested in advancing comprehensive integrative pain management.  These efforts are always in collaboration with other experts and will include information briefs, webinars and more. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss opportunities to work together.

Onward and Upward!
Amy

Relevant Reading

Telehealth Startup Lin Health Sees Chronic Pain As A Disability—And They Make Treating It Accessible, Forbes, January 12

Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Syndrome Symptoms Improved With Acupuncture, Pain Medicine News, January 31

The efficacy and safety of acupuncture assisted anesthesia (AAA) for postoperative pain of thoracoscopy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials., Physicians Weekly, January 31

‘When the pain starts, it is so bad, he will just cry and cry and cry’, The Irish Times, January 30

Long-term pain after knee surgery reduced, new treatment has shown, Science News, January 29

Study: Trigeminal Neuralgia Affects More Than 3% of Patients, Multiple Sclerosis New Today, January 28

How to Keep Working When You Have Ankylosing Spondylitis, HealthCentral, January 27

Covid Made Healthcare Even More Difficult for People with Chronic Illness, Pain News Network, January 27

Children and the Use of Complementary Health Approaches, NCCIH, January 27

Pain Syndromes Common in Patients With Long COVID, Clinical Pain Advisor, January 21

Acupuncture use is increasing, but many insurers do not cover it, Healio, January 18

A New Approach to Train the Brain to Treat Chronic Pain, Psychology Today, January 13

Virtual reality program for back pain superior to sham device 3 months after treatment, Healio, January 10

10 to 30% of COVID-19 patients experience lingering symptoms, WCNC, January 10

Living With Chronic Illness, Psychology Today, January 9

Virtual Physical Therapy Platforms Go Beyond the App, HealthTech, January 7