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Pain Management Toolkit

New Directions recognizes that pain and chronic pain are top conditions presenting in primary care. Prescriber education regarding current guidelines and tools for appropriate and safe prescribing is critical to ensuring best outcomes for members. It is estimated that approximately 20% of members prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. In 2016, in response to the Opioid Epidemic, the CDC published CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Highlights of this guideline include 3 key areas for improving patient safety:

Before starting opioids for chronic pain, options that do not include opioids should be considered (including behavioral therapies) and risks should be fully evaluated,
When opioids are necessary, the lowest dose should be utilized to reduce the risk of overdose, and
Increased monitoring of members on opioids is a necessary risk mitigation practice.

Behavioral therapies and substance use consultations can be accessed by calling the 800 number for case management for the patients plan area.

The following tools and resources are provided to assist in safe prescribing and managing chronic pain:

Screening Tools

Opioid Risk Tool NIDA Quick Screen V1.0

Provider Resources

American Academy of Family Physicians - Chronic Pain Management Toolkits CDC GUideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain American Pain Society Clinical Practice Guidelines CDC Checklist for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain Turn the Tide, Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, adapted from CDC Guideline CDC Calculating Total Daily Dose of Opioids for Safe Dosage Additional educational articles >

Patient Resources

Patient Guidelines, Manage Your Pain, Minimize Your Risk American CHronic Pain Association, Pain Management Tools Health Resource Library
You can help members access the resources they need by calling our Care Management Services or instructing them to call the number on the back of their insurance card.