Moderator: Daniel Blaney-Koen, JD, Senior Legislative Attorney, American Medical Association, and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board

CE Certified by: AMA, AAFP, ACPE, ANCC, NASW

With the move to reduce opioid prescriptions, what are the options for patients who suffer from chronic pain? Payers can play important roles in improving quality of care for these patients. This session is designed as a guide for payers to improve their services in this area by discussing the challenges to overcome and sharing examples of successful strategies. To emphasize the value of working together toward solutions, participants will hear from a provider and a payer.

Topics to be covered will include:
- Federal policies and initiatives developed to help increase access to comprehensive pain management
- Public policy initiatives aimed to limit harm from Rx opioids.
- Goals and treatment approaches in an interdisciplinary pain management program that coordinates physical and occupational therapy, behavioral health, pain education, and medication management, including opioid weaning, to restore patients to a greater quality of life and give them the tools to better self-manage their pain condition.
- Roles and responsibilities of payers in ensuring individuals who suffer from chronic pain and/or opioid use disorder get the right care at the right time in the right setting.
- Current challenges and opportunities in assuring access to appropriate, evidence-based care.

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Outline federal policies and initiatives aimed to increase access to comprehensive pain management and public policy initiatives to limit harm from Rx opioids.
- Describe the goals and treatment approaches in an interdisciplinary pain management program.
- Discuss payers’ roles and responsibilities in ensuring appropriate, timely care for individuals who suffer from chronic pain and/or opioid use disorder.
- Identify challenges and opportunities in assuring access to appropriate, evidence-based care.