42 USC 294i – Program for education and training in pain care
(a) In general
The Secretary may make awards of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to health professions schools, hospices, tribal health programs (as defined in section 1603 of title 25), and other public and nonprofit private entities for the development and implementation of programs to provide education and training to health care professionals in pain care.
(b) Certain topics
Terms Used In 42 USC 294i
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. See 42 USC 201
- State: includes , in addition to the several States, only the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. See 42 USC 201
An entity receiving an award under this section shall develop a comprehensive education and training plan that includes information and education on—
(1) recognized means for assessing, diagnosing, preventing, treating, and managing pain and related signs and symptoms, including non-addictive medical products and non-pharmacologic treatments and the medically appropriate use of controlled substances;
(2) applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, rules, and policies on controlled substances, including opioids;
(3) interdisciplinary approaches to the delivery of pain care, including delivery through specialized centers providing comprehensive pain care treatment expertise, integrated, evidence-based pain management, and, as appropriate, non-pharmacotherapy;
(4) cultural, linguistic, literacy, geographic, and other barriers to care in underserved populations;
(5) recent findings, developments, and advancements in pain care research and the provision of pain care, which may include non-addictive medical products and non-pharmacologic treatments intended to treat pain; and
(6) the dangers of opioid abuse and misuse, detection of early warning signs of opioid use disorders (which may include best practices related to screening for opioid use disorders, training on screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment), and safe disposal options for prescription medications (including such options provided by law enforcement or other innovative deactivation mechanisms).
(c) Evaluation of programs
The Secretary shall (directly or through grants or contracts) provide for the evaluation of programs implemented under subsection (a) in order to determine the effect of such programs on knowledge and practice of pain care.
(d) Pain care defined
For purposes of this section the term “pain care” means the assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or management of acute or chronic pain regardless of causation or body location.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.