Four new fact sheets have been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to aid a discussion between patients and providers about pain management options and possible risks of opioid medication.
 
The fact sheets are designed to help providers talk with patients about acute pain, chronic pain, prescription opioids and reducing risk of opioid addiction.
 
The opioid crisis was declared an official public health emergency in 2017, with 70,000 lives lost that year due to overdose, of which 69 percent involved opioids.
 
CMS is seeking to remove an existing pain measure and related OASIS item “out of an abundance of caution” to avoid unintentionally encouraging the over-prescription of opioid medications in light of the opioid crisis, according to the 2020 PPS proposed rule.
 
The measure “Pain interfering with activity” would be publicly reported through April 2020.
 
Related links: Learn more about the new fact sheets at https://go.cms.gov/2mdgcTj.