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... “How Do You Measure Up?” rates states in nine specific areas of public policy that can help fight cancer, including increased access to care through Medicaid, funding for cancer screening programs, tobacco control policies and restricting indoor tanning devices for minors. The ... continue to protect the needs of cancer patients and survivors who deal with pain every day,” Crews said. “Opioid abuse is a critical public health crisis that must be addressed, but the General Assembly should also fix these policies that are keeping people with serious and chronic conditions from accessing the legitimate pain care that they need.” Nationally, the report finds that increased access to health coverage through Medicaid is the most met benchmark, with 34 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, having ...

... to address the opioid epidemic. Overview of the SUPPORT Act [i] Expands opioid treatment and recovery by providing incentives for enhanced care, coordination and innovation; and establishes comprehensive opioid recovery centers. Encourages the use of non-addictive opioid alternatives ... (FDA) to address the challenges and barriers of developing non-addictive medical products used to treat pain; (3) requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to Congress on access and effectiveness of abuse-deterrent opioid formulations; and (4) ... Agency (DEA) to consider when setting annual opioid quotas (i.e. limits on supply), including diversion, abuse, overdose deaths and public health impacts; and requires DEA to explain the public health benefits if the agency approves an increase in any annual opioid quota. ACS CAN ...

... chronic pain, it remains a highly stigmatized issue. But given proper attention most pain can be treated and relieved. Integrative pain care that includes non-drug therapies along with medications is effective in keeping patient pain under control. While not the only tool, opioid ... of cancer patients and survivors in such efforts. Balanced Public Policy Response ACS CAN supports balanced policies that address the public health concerns relevant to the opioid epidemic and that do not impede access to pain medications for patients and survivors who need them, such ... new evidence-based pain treatments, pharmacological and non-pharmacological Increasing provider education on pain management and palliative care Ensuring that public and private insurance programs cover the range of evidence-based pain treatments in a way that is accessible and ...

... The Comprehensive Addictions and Recovery Act (CARA) was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, and underscores the critical public health problem of misuse and abuse of opioid medications. The legislation also includes provisions that acknowledge the legitimate need cancer ... scientific understanding there is of the basic biologic causes of pain. In response to that, the new law directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to intensify research into what causes pain, as well as possible alternatives to opioids for effective pain management. State-based ... task force to review, modify, and update best practices for how pain medication is prescribed to patients. Better informed guidelines and care standards for physicians will help them better understand and treat patients with chronic pain. We applaud Congress for working together to ...