The Michigan Cancer Pain Initiative is working statewide and with national organizations to bring attention to the problem of untreated and under-treated pain. We are active in raising public, professional, and institutional awareness of pain issues, and in fostering change in the arena of public policy.
For many years, state and federal policies concerning pain control on the one hand and addiction and abuse on the other have often been in conflict. This has left many doctors concerned that opioid prescribing will put them in legal and licensing jeopardy. A balanced policy recognizes that while drug abuse and addiction are a serious problem for society, so too is the failure to relieve pain; that the latter is also a breach of physicians' professional duty; and that failing to address the problem of pain is too high a price to pay for successfully combating abuse. Such a policy allows doctors to relieve pain while law enforcement agencies fight crime, and does not put doctors in the role of law enforcers.
A consensus statement on the principles of a balanced policy regarding prescription pain medications – Promoting Pain Relief and Preventing Abuse of Pain Medications: A Critical Balancing Act – was issued by 21 health organizations, including the national Alliance of State Pain Initiatives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Michigan receives top rating in pain policy
- MCPI has played a significant part in efforts to update laws and regulations in Michigan, leading to the state's becoming one of only four that received an A grade from the Pain & Policy Studies Group (PDF Download) for its balanced pain policy.
MCPI role inlegislation and regulatory change
- MCPI was instrumental in the adoption of the 1998 Model Guideline for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain (PDF Download) by Michigan's Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. We are now encouraging both boards to adopt the Federation of State Medical Boards' more recent Model Policy for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain (PDF Download).
- MCPI was a major force in the passage of a package of fifteen bills related to pain policy in 2001. Among other accomplishments, the legislation required the disclosure to patients of certain facts about pain management, listed patients' rights with regard to pain treatment, and ended an Official Prescription Program that called for the use of a special prescription pad and hindered adequate prescribing of pain medications. The replacement Michigan Automated Prescription System instead provides for electronic monitoring that avoids theneed for a special pad. Since its inception, prescriptions for Schedule 2 controlled substances have increased with no apparent rise in diversion ofthese substances to illegal uses.
- MCPI endorsed the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 (PDF Download) introduced by Michigan congressman Mike Rogers and is working to support its passage. The bill would establish a Pain Consortium at the National Institutes of Health and improve standards for education and training of healthcare professionals in pain treatment.
- MCPI endorsed the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007 and the Military Pain Care Act of 2008. The bills would require, among other things, that the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military service branches establish comprehensive pain care initiatives.
- MCPI is represented on the Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management, which is charged with making recommendations concerning legislation, administrative rules and state guidelines in areas related to pain.