Background:

Generally, pain management is the practice of medically treating people suffering from pain, including the management of long-term pain. Pharmacological interventions for pain often include the use of opioids. Because of the health risks associated with opioid use, there are several state rules and guidelines for prescribing such drugs.

For example, both the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC), the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (BOMS), and the Podiatric Medical Board (PMB) have adopted guidelines for the treatment of pain with opioids. Additionally, the MQAC and the BOMS have adopted rules that require practitioners treating pain to be knowledgeable about the complex nature of pain, familiar with pain treatment terms used in the pain guidelines, and knowledgeable about acceptable pain treatment modalities. The rules also state that practitioners will not be disciplined based solely on the quantity or frequency of opioids prescribed as long as the care provided is consistent with currently acceptable medical practices.

Other guidelines for the treatment of pain were developed by the Agency Medical Director's Group, which was a consortium of agencies that purchase or regulate health care, including the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Health Care Authority in consultation with a panel of pain experts. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist primary care providers when prescribing opioids in a safe and effective manner and to assist primary care providers in treating patients whose morphine equivalent dose already exceeds 120 mg per day.

The DOH also hosts a work group on reducing opioid abuse and unintentional poisonings. The group consists of representatives from the DOH, the DSHS, the L&I, the MQAC, the Board of Pharmacy, the University of Washington, the Office of the Attorney General, and other public and private entities.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

By December 1, 2010, the MQAC, the BOMS, and the PMB must repeal their rules on pain management. By December 1, 2010, the MQAC, the BOMS, the PMB, the Dental Quality Assurance Commission, the Optometry Board, and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission must all adopt new rules on chronic, non-cancer pain management. The new rules must contain the following elements:

dosing criteria based on the Interagency Guideline on Opioid Dosing for Chronic Non-cancer Pain developed by the Agency Medical Directors' Group;
guidance on when to seek specialty consultation and ways in which electronic specialty consultations may be sought;
guidance on tracking clinical progress by using assessment tools focusing on pain interference, physical function, and overall risk for poor outcome; and
guidance on tracking the use of opioids.

The new rules must be adopted in consultation with the Agency Medical Directors' Group, the DOH, the University of Washington, and the Washington State Medical Association. The boards and commissions adopting the rules must work collaboratively to ensure that the rules are as uniform as practicable. The rules do not apply to palliative, hospice, or other end-of-life care or to the management of acute pain caused by an injury or a surgical procedure, except to the extent that special requirements are needed for opioid-dependent patients.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The proposed substitute bill:

removes the provisions requiring health professionals to complete one pain management class.
requires the following boards and commissions to repeal their rules on pain management (effective December 1, 2010):
- The Podiatric Medical Board;
- The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery; and
- The Medical Quality Assurance Commission;
requires the following boards and commissions to adopt new rules on pain management (effective December 1, 2010):
- The Podiatric Medical Board;
- The Dental Quality Assurance Commission;
- The Optometry Board;
- The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery;
- The Medical Quality Assurance Commission; and
- The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission;
requires the new rules to contain the following elements:
- dosing criteria based on the guidelines developed by the Agency Medical Directors' Group;
- guidance on when to seek specialty consultation and ways in which to seek such consultation electronically;
- guidance on tracking clinical progress using assessment tools; and
- guidance on tracking the use of opioids.
requires the rules to be adopted in consultation with the Agency Medical Directors' Group, the DOH, the University of Washington, and the Washington State Medical Association;
requires the boards and commissions to work collaboratively to ensure that the rules are as uniform as practicable;
exempts from the rules professionals providing end-of-life care; and
exempts from the rules the management of acute pain caused by an injury or surgical procedures, except to the extent special requirements are needed for opioid-dependent patients.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support - from testimony on HB 2391, identical except for the title) There has been an increase in opioid addiction in Washington. Opioid addiction often begins with the treatment of pain. This is an issue plaguing medicine; opioid-related deaths exceed highway deaths. Mandatory education in pain management is a good beginning.

(In support with concerns - from testimony on HB 2391, identical except for the title) In the 1990s many states changed their laws to prevent under-prescription of opioids, which led to an increase in the number of opioid deaths. This is a public health emergency. Over-prescription of opioids leads to tolerance and addiction with no improved function. Mandatory education is not enough. Other tools are needed, such as dosing guidelines, screening tools, feedback tools, information exchanges, and access to specialized care.

(Opposed - from testimony on HB 2391, identical except for the title) The solution to this problem is to revive the prescription monitoring system. There are limits on what physicians can accept regarding mandatory continuing education. Physicians already have to complete a lot of continuing education on top of their other duties. Not all physicians even prescribe opioids and some of those who do are already experts. Education alone is not enough.