Issued September 2021
Physicians and other authorized users queried state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) more than 910,000,000 times in 2020; more than double compared to 2018.
New national data from leading health data clearinghouse IQVIA show that every state in the nation saw a large decrease of prescription opioids dispensed from retail pharmacies between 2011-2020. Every state also saw large decreases in dosage strength, measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) during the same time period.
AMA President, Susan R. Bailey, MD and the AMA Director of Science and Drug Policy, Amy B. Cadwallader, PhD presented a session at the 2021 Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit that highlighted the reasons why data standardization and public health interventions have been elusive and they provide actionable solutions for states, organizations, and policymakers to meaningfully address the nation’s overdose epidemic.
Updated November 12, 2021. This issue brief is focused on positive interventions from 40 states that are working to help increase access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, patients with pain and harm reduction efforts. The reports include news releases, data from multiple and varied sources, including national, state and local public health agencies, advocacy organizations, law enforcement, emergency medical services, hospitals, treatment centers, research journals and others.
AMA resource details numerous state parity violations and provides specific recommendations for meaningful oversight and enforcement.
New issue brief shows broad use of increased DEA prescribing and treatment flexibility; barriers and concerns, however, persist.
This issue brief summarizes the findings of a recent AMA, Colorado Medical Society, Colorado Pain Society and Manatt Health report submitted to the Colorado Division of Insurance in support of multidisciplinary, multimodal pain care.
The American Medical Association, Colorado Medical Society, Colorado Pain Society and Manatt Health worked with Oliver Wyman to provide a detailed Request for Information to the Colorado Division of Insurance on the costs associated with the health coverage provisions proposed in Colorado House Bill 20-1085 that would have increased access to multidisciplinary, multimodal pain care.
By Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, Chair, AMA Opioid Task Force; Bobby Mukkamala, MD, Chair AMA Pain Care Task Force
Updated November 12, 2021 This issue brief is focused on providing a representative sample of the research published during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on substance use disorders, pain and harm reduction. It includes research from medical and scientific journals as well as advocacy organizations. Some of the materials require a subscription while most are publicly available.
The AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force urges physicians and other health care professions to continue taking action to help reverse the nation’s drug overdose epidemic—and the Task Force also calls on policymakers to take specific steps to remove barriers to evidence-based care for patients with pain and those with a substance use disorder.
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