Thread by @DanBoon63784314

Thank you to @BethDarnall for speaking at #Minnesota @MinnesotaDHS #Opioid Work Group mtg on Thursday: Spoke of importance of #patientcenteredcare, #patientconsent necessary if taper & strongly advised AGAINST force tapers & using pre-determined MME'S. #ChronicPain #NoOneSize

MN #opioid Work Group created Taper Guidance. It will be out 4 public comment soon. Some areas extremely problematic. Although it states NOT 2 taper solely 2 meet system or state policy; MN Quality Improvement requires Drs 2 meet MME thresholds = TAPER TO MEET STATE POLICY. 🤔

If #ChronicPain pt wants 2 try 2 taper from #opioid analgesics 4 any reason & CONSENTS, there needs 2 be safe way 2 do it. Problem throughout U.S, incl #Minnesota; is non-consensual tapering. Many experts, incl #addiction specialists, stress dangers & even state it's UNETHICAL.

If a #ChronicPain #intractablepain #RareDisease pt is stable on #opioid analgesics, has reduced pain, increased function, better quality of life; able to participate in life & shows no abuse, no addiction, no diversion; WHY ARE THEY LOSING ACCESS 2 MEDICATIONS THAT BENEFIT THEM?

Almost 5 yrs, MN OPWG fails 2 address in #opioid guidelines; #intractablepain = INCURABLE #ChronicPain or #RareDiseases involving high pain w majority have NO CURE, NO FDA indicated Tx.DYK #IVIG can help pts w #CRPS, but it's ⬆️ $150,000/yr OOP. Who can afford that? Can #mnleg ?

Another treatment 4 pain is Ketamine infusions. NOT FDA indicated 4 pain, so #healthcare ins mostly denies coverage.
DYK for pts w #CRPS w other complex #health issues like #epilepsy, an initial 5 day hospital inpatient infusions r recommended = $100,000 OOP? MN fails to care!

#EhlersDanlosSyndrome
#MultipleSclerosis #Chiari #SickleCell #ClusterHeadaches
#arthritis #PolyChondritis #PalliativeCare #Veterans
There's tens of millions Americans w vital med necessity for #opioid analgesics whose benefits outweigh risks & theses meds r their last resort.

Minnesota can absolutely address #AddictionCrisis & #illegaldrugcrisis at same time & also ensure ppl of MN w med necessity for #opioid analgesics, whose benefits outweigh risk in their INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CIRCUMSTANCES don't continue to lose access. @GovTimWalz MN must do better

New plan!
Provide INDIVIDUALIZED #healthcare 2 ppl regardless of disease, injury, condition, Dx, #chronicillness.

Incl, not limited to:
#OUD (illegal & legal #opioids)
#addiction 2 ANY substance

#ChronicPain #intractablepain

Stop txing all ⬆️ same.
It's a #healthcarefail

I heard someone asked group if this #opioid analgesics taper guidance would be Integrated into Quality Improvement Program, being as language is clear; NOT taper solely to meet system or state policy.
Told no one answered question asked 2x.
@MinnesotaDHS Do you know? @mnhealth?

If #Minnesota @MinnesotaDHS would have allowed actual #painpatients on #opioid work group 5 YEARS AGO & not just this yr; they'd have an understanding of lived experiences & barriers #ChronicPain #intractablepain #RareDiseases face. 10/22 FINALLY proposed group to address this.