Sec. 101. TASK FORCE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT

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## SEC. 101 TASK FORCE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT ###

(a)Definitions In this section: ####

(1)Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. ####

(2)Task force The term “task force” means the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force convened under subsection (b). ###

(b)Inter-Agency Task Force Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, shall convene a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force. ###

(c)Membership The task force shall be comprised of— ####

(1)representatives of— #####

(A)the Department of Health and Human Services and relevant agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services; #####

(B)the Department of Veterans Affairs; #####

(C)the Department of Defense; and #####

(D)the Office of National Drug Control Policy; ####

(2)currently licensed and practicing physicians, dentists, and nonphysician prescribers; ####

(3)currently licensed and practicing pharmacists and pharmacies; ####

(4)experts in the fields of pain research and addiction research, including adolescent and young adult addiction research; ####

(5)representatives of— #####

(A)pain management professional organizations; #####

(B)the mental health treatment community; #####

(C)the addiction treatment community, including individuals in recovery from substance use disorder; #####

(D)pain advocacy groups, including patients; #####

(E)veteran service organizations; #####

(F)groups with expertise on overdose reversal, including first responders; #####

(G)State medical boards; and #####

(H)hospitals; ####

(6)experts on the health of, and prescription opioid use disorders in, members of the Armed Forces and veterans; and ####

(7)experts in the field of minority health. ###

(d)Representation The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the task force includes individuals representing rural and underserved areas. ###

(e)Duties The task force shall— ####

(1)identify, review, and, as appropriate, determine whether there are gaps in or inconsistencies between best practices for pain management (including chronic and acute pain) developed or adopted by Federal agencies; ####

(2)not later than 1 year after the date on which the task force is convened under subsection (b), propose updates to best practices and recommendations on addressing gaps or inconsistencies identified under paragraph (1), as appropriate, and submit to relevant Federal agencies and the general public such proposed updates and recommendations, taking into consideration— #####

(A)existing pain management research and other relevant research; #####

(B)recommendations from relevant conferences and existing relevant evidence-based guidelines; #####

(C)ongoing efforts at the State and local levels and by medical professional organizations to develop improved pain management strategies, including consideration of differences within and between classes of opioids, the availability of opioids with abuse deterrent technology, and pharmacological, nonpharmacological, and medical device alternatives to opioids to reduce opioid monotherapy in appropriate cases; #####

(D)the management of high-risk populations who receive opioids in the course of medical care, other than for pain management; #####

(E)the 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and #####

(F)private sector, State, and local government efforts related to pain management and prescribing pain medication; ####

(3)provide the public with at least 90 days to submit comments on any proposed updates and recommendations under paragraph (2); and ####

(4)develop a strategy for disseminating information about best practices for pain management (including chronic and acute pain) to stakeholders, if appropriate. ###

(f)Limitation The task force shall not have rulemaking authority. ###

(g)Sunset The task force under this section shall sunset after 3 years.