White House to request $1.1 billion to address opioid crisis
The New York Times (2/2, A13, Harris, Subscription Publication) reports that the Obama Administration said Tuesday it would ask Congress to spend an additional $1.1 billion next year to fight the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic. Nearly half of the new funds would be used to expand treatment facilities.…
Flu Season Begins: Severe Influenza Illness Reported
CDC urges rapid antiviral treatment of very ill and high risk suspect influenza patients without waiting for testing CDC HEALTH ADVISORY: February 1, 2016 Summary Influenza activity is increasing across the country and CDC has received reports of severe influenza illness. Clinicians are reminded to treat suspected influenza in…
New Guidelines Seek to Prevent Overuse of Antibiotics in Adults
The CDC and the American College of Physicians recently issued guidelines intended to help physicians avoid overuse of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections in adults. The guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, describe how physicians begin deciding if antibiotics are warranted for certain respiratory complaints, explain that…
Why the physician voice is key to public health
Physicians bear the right to speak up for themselves and their patients. That’s a principle Mary Travis Bassett, MD, public health commissioner for the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, said guides her work and commitment to speaking out against health disparities—even if it means…
Christian Clinic offers free services; doctors needed
By Tammy Keith, Arkansas Democratt-Gazette Paula Margison of Atkins said she would never be able to afford her diabetes medication if it weren’t for the River Valley Christian Clinic in Dardanelle. “I would be in deep, serious trouble. I use four bottles of insulin a month. The last time…
Senate votes to repeal much of ACA, defund Planned Parenthood
The Washington Post (12/4, Snell) reports that the Senate recently voted 52-47 to repeal “large portions” of the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood. The budget reconciliation package, which needed only a simple 51-vote majority to pass, “make[s] good on a longstanding” GOP promise to voters but…
Pain Management Training & Information
Resources From the Providers' Clinical Support System for Opioid Therapies The AMA and members of the Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse are collaborating on theProviders' Clinical Support System initiative, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.…
CME Courses & Webinars on Safe Opioid Prescribing
Physicians can earn CME credit for studying many of these Task Force-approved resources. Webinar | Opioid Agonist Therapy: To Maintain or Not to Maintain American Psychiatric Association CME | Stigma in Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment American Society of Addiction Medicine CME | SCOPE of Pain: Safe and…
What Can I Do to Prevent Opioid Abuse?
Opioid abuse is a national epidemic that you have the power to help prevent. The AMA Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse wants physicians across the nation to join together and take action to prevent opioid abuse. Here are five things you can do to prevent opioid abuse:…
CDC Health Advisory: Increases in Fentanyl Drug Confiscations
Increases in Fentanyl Drug Confiscations and Fentanyl-related Overdose Fatalities Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are investigating recent increases in fentanyl-related unintentional overdose fatalities in multiple states across the U.S. The purpose of this HAN advisory is to: (1)…
Consultant’s Report to the Legislative Health Care Reform Task Force
On Wednesday, October 7, AMS staff attended a meeting of the Legislative Health Care Reform Task Force to hear the report of the task force's consulting firm, The Stephen Group (TSG). As expected, the recommendations were focused on a replacement for the Private Option and reforming the current…