Sec. 253. Enhancement of joint working group on pain management of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense
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Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Pain Management Working Group of the Health Executive Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, includes a focus on the following: The opioid prescribing practices of health care providers of each Department. The ability of each Department to manage acute and chronic pain among individuals receiving health care from that Department, including training health care providers with respect to pain management.
The use by each Department of complementary and integrative health in treating such individuals. The concurrent use by health care providers of each Department of opioids for patients who take prescription drugs, including benzodiazepines, to treat mental health disorders. The use of care transition plans by health care providers of each Department to address case management issues for patients receiving opioid therapy who transition between inpatient and outpatient settings.
The coordination in coverage of and consistent access to medications prescribed for patients transitioning from receiving health care from the Department of Defense to receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The ability of each Department to properly screen, identify, and refer for treatment patients with substance abuse disorders who are seeking treatment for acute and chronic pain management conditions. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the working group described in subsection (a)— coordinates the activities of the working group with other relevant working groups established under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, including the working groups on evidence based practice, patient safety, pharmacy, and psychological health; consults with other relevant Federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with respect to the activities of the working group; consults with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense with respect to the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain, or any successor guideline, before any update to the guideline is released; and reviews and comments on the guideline described in paragraph
(3)before any update to such guideline is released. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the working group described in subsection
(a)is able to meaningfully consult with respect to the updated guideline required under subsection
(a)of section 251, as required by subsection
(b)of such section, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.