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Report on Pain Management Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies, and Recommendations

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) required the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force to develop the Report on Pain Management Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies, and Recommendations*, which identified gaps or inconsistencies, and proposed updates to best practices and recommendations for pain management, including chronic and acute pain.

HHS Blog: Patient-Centered Care Is Key to Best Practices in Pain Management by Dr. Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM

Final Report Resource Kit

This Resources Kit includes a set of factsheets and infographics that summarize information from the Report that can help communicate recommendations for improving pain management. The resources below are listed by pain management related topic areas. Click the links below to download the PDF of each type of resource. These resources can be used in PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, or on social media accounts.

  • Military Service Members and Veterans - especially those who experience combat-related injuries and other occupational hazards can have complex pain management needs. Infographic
  • Overview – of the PMTF Report findings and background on the Task Force's efforts to improve best practices for acute and chronic pain management in light of the ongoing opioid crisis. Factsheet
  • Policymakers – at the Federal and State levels play a critical role in improving lives of chronic pain and advancing policy considerations identified by the Task Force. Factsheet
  • Special Populations – with unique challenges associated with acute and chronic pain, include children/youth, older adults, women, pregnant women, individuals with chronic relapsing pain conditions, racial and ethnic populations, active duty military, reserve service members, Veterans, patients with cancer-related pain, and patients in palliative care. Factsheet
  • Access to Care – learn more about the barriers such as lack of coverage, medication shortages and pain management specialists and stigma. Factsheet and Infographic
  • Stigma - can serve as a significant barrier to adequate treatment of pain – and can affect patients, families, caregivers, and even clinicians. Factsheet and Infographic
  • Patient Safety - is a critical component of individualized, patient-centered acute and chronic pain care. Factsheet and Infographic
  • Education - for patients, clinicians, and policymakers is critical to the delivery of effective, patient-centered pain management. Factsheet and Infographic
Content created by Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
Content last reviewed on December 6, 2019