Equity in CIPM Access for People with Pain

September 24, 2020 — 11:00am-3:00pm ET

Pre-register for this informative symposium during Pain Awareness Month in partnership with the US Pain Foundation.

Hear current realities for Medicaid Directors, and highlights from US Pain Foundation’s August 2020 patient survey about barriers to multidisciplinary pain management and the just-released report from National Governors Association, titled “Expanding Access to Non-Opioid Management of Chronic Pain: Considerations for Governors”, and much more.

Some of the Confirmed Presenters:

• Matt Salo, Executive Director, National Association of Medicaid Directors
• Kirk Williamson, MPH, Health Policy Analyst, National Governors Association
• Nicole Hemmenway, Executive Director, US Pain Foundation
• David Elton, DC, Chief Strategy Officer, United Health Ventures
• Shari Ling, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Joanna Katzman, MD, Pain Management, University of New Mexico
• Sharad Kohli, MD, Family Physician, People’s Community Clinic (FQHC)

NGA Report on Chronic Pain Released Today

On August 31, 2020, the National Governors Association (NGA) released a new report, “Expanding Access to Non-Opioid Management of Chronic Pain: Considerations for Governors.” In an effort to equip governors with the tools they need to confidently safeguard patients with chronic pain, this report highlights best practices informed by an NGA Center for Best Practices expert roundtable. The roundtable convened state health officials, national pain specialists, payors, regulators, and federal health officials to discuss strategies to broaden access to non-opioid therapies to assist individuals with self-managing their chronic pain. Specifically, it synthesizes the existing evidence base, examines Medicaid coverage policies, and identifies barriers and opportunities for scaling evidence-based integrated pain management delivery systems. Click below to read the full report.

Spiritual Care for People With Pain

Spotlight: CMS Approves HCPCS Codes for VA Spiritual Care

An Interview with Juliana Lesher, M.Div., Ph.D., BCC

“The codes are non-billable and allow chaplains to be part of the clinical count, nonbillable workload for VA. These codes will become effective on October 1, 2020. With more spiritual care provided in VA facilities, it will make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of our Veterans.” Click below for more details.

AACIPM Article: The Role of Spiritual Care in Comprehensive Pain Care

Authors: Christina Puchalski, MD, Bonnie Sakallaris, PhD, RN, Matthew J.Taylor, PT, PhD, C-IAYT, Juliana Lesher, M.Div., Ph.D., BCC, Mindy Wallace, DNP, MSN, CRNA, DAIPM, Amy Goldstein, MSW, Col. Kevin Galloway, BSN, MHA (RET)

“All patients in an integrative pain practice should have their spiritual care needs assessed and receive spiritual care as needed and desired. Evidence in multiple studies demonstrate that patients want this care and that addressing spiritual needs improves physical, functional, and emotional outcomes.” Click below to read more.

Related virtual retreat: The George Washington Institute for Spirituality & Health will host its 15th Annual GWish Art of Presence Healthcare Renewal Retreat on September 25-27, 2020, 10:00am-2:00pm EDT. Click below for flyer.

Spotlight: Madigan’s Interdisciplinary Pain Management Centers

An interview with Diane Flynn, MD, primary care physician at Madigan.
“Real time collaboration leveraged synchronously among multiple disciplines is the key to interdisciplinary optimization of patient care and outcomes.”

The Interdisciplinary Pain Management Centers (IPMC) at Madigan and at other Army Medical Centers were established in 2010 at the direction of the Army Medical Command and in response to the 2010 DOD/VA Pain Management Task Force (PMTF) Report.

Free Virtual Education Coming This Fall

September Pain Awareness Month

Message from the Director

It has been a busy month as we have been working with many of our partners to develop and share important resources for Pain Awareness Month and beyond. AACIPM continues to connect key stakeholders (payors, providers, people with pain) and synthesize the barriers and opportunities that will lead to a more lasting paradigm shift to comprehensive, multimodal, interdisciplinary pain care. I’m really excited for you to see the new resources in this issue and participate in our upcoming symposia that includes important perspectives from leaders at National Governors Association, US Pain Foundation, National Association of Medicaid Directors, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United Health, The Hartford, American Psychological Association, University of New Mexico, and many more.

Onward and Upward!
Amy

Relevant Reading

Pain Definition Updated After 40 years, Med Page Today, August 6

Brain waves can be used to predict future pain sensitivity, Science Daily, August 6

Redefining the “Pain Specialist” of Today, Practical Pain Management, August 3

VA reduces prescription opioid use by 64% during past eight years, VA.gov, July 30

Good Attitude Improves Effectiveness of Yoga and Physical Therapy, Pain News Network, July 20

AppliedVR testing the use of at-home virtual reality therapy for chronic pain, Fierce Healthcare, July 14