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Get engaged: Board seeks licensee input as part of chronic pain position statement review
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) recently adopted a completely revised “Model Policy on the Appropriate Use of Opioid Analgesics in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.” State medical boards are not obligated to accept an FSMB model policy as their own policy, but they are invited and encouraged to use the policy as a basic framework that may be customized to the particular needs of the individual regulatory boards and their licensees. The NCMB used the Federation’s 2004 policy on the treatment of chronic pain as a guide when revising its own position statement on the use of controlled substances for the treatment of chronic pain in 2005. The NCMB is beginning the process of reviewing and revising the 2005 version of its policy soon and expects to use the Federation’s new model policy as a blueprint once again.
The Board also wants to know what you, its licensees, think. If you prescribe controlled substances to treat chronic pain in your practice, or if there is a chance you might start doing so in the future, please take the time to look over the Board’s existing position statement. There have been important developments related to the treatment of chronic pain in the last several years and the Board expects to make significant changes to the position statement.
The Board will hold a public forum to receive comments from interested parties, orally and/or in writing on August 21 from 4-6 p.m. at the Board’s administrative offices in Raleigh.
To help licensees get up to speed on this important issue, we are publishing the full text of the Board’s existing “Policy for the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain,” as well as an excerpt from the FSMB’s proposed model policy that provides a summary of topics covered. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to communicate your thoughts and concerns to the Board. What subjects should be addressed in the Board’s new position? What specific areas related to the use of controlled substances for the treatment of chronic pain would you like Board guidance on?
Licensees may submit comments in writing in advance of the public hearing by emailing them to forum@ncmedboard.org
Board position statement
Policy for the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain
Federation of State Medical Boards
Model policy on the appropriate use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of chronic pain
The Board also wants to know what you, its licensees, think. If you prescribe controlled substances to treat chronic pain in your practice, or if there is a chance you might start doing so in the future, please take the time to look over the Board’s existing position statement. There have been important developments related to the treatment of chronic pain in the last several years and the Board expects to make significant changes to the position statement.
The Board will hold a public forum to receive comments from interested parties, orally and/or in writing on August 21 from 4-6 p.m. at the Board’s administrative offices in Raleigh.
To help licensees get up to speed on this important issue, we are publishing the full text of the Board’s existing “Policy for the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain,” as well as an excerpt from the FSMB’s proposed model policy that provides a summary of topics covered. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to communicate your thoughts and concerns to the Board. What subjects should be addressed in the Board’s new position? What specific areas related to the use of controlled substances for the treatment of chronic pain would you like Board guidance on?
Licensees may submit comments in writing in advance of the public hearing by emailing them to forum@ncmedboard.org
Board position statement
Policy for the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain
Federation of State Medical Boards
Model policy on the appropriate use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of chronic pain