I wanted CSPM&R to write guidelines for the long term use of opioids for chronic pain.

This was something that came up during our round table discussion at our last meeting. Our members were frustrated that current workers' compensation guidelines left patients who were on chronic opioids out in the cold. Patients felt compelled to settle their cases because their opioids were no longer covered. Our group felt that we should write our present guidelines were inadequate and I suggested that we, as a group of esteemed experts, get together and write guidelines addressing this. In the interim, ACOEM came out with their guidelines on pain management. The editorial board was chaired by physiatrist Steven Feinberg, MD who, I felt, did a nice job of leaving us with guidelines that we could use to help our patients get their meds authorized. So now it seems the gaps is narrowing in the presence of evidence based guidelines for chronic opioid management. However, there is still a lack of support for those patients who are on chronic high dose opioids. I still feel that some type of evidence based guidelines are in order. Please contact me at cspmr2018@gmail.com if you would like to help CSPM&R write these guidelines.