Mass Pain Initiative News & Events

Important perspectives from two experienced pain physicians.

One article represents the formal CDC comments about the new draft guidelines; the other reflects on the harm of under treatment of serious pain.

Posted: to News Updates on Thu, Apr 21, 2022
Updated: Wed, Jun 29, 2022

Summary of the key changes in the new proposed CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline

Article summarizing what has and has not changed in the proposed versus the original 2016 guideline

Posted: to News Updates on Sat, Mar 26, 2022
Updated: Tue, Apr 5, 2022

CDC releases its draft of new pain guidelines, including the use of opioids

The draft guidelines are open for public comments until April 11, 2022 with final guidelines expected in late 2022.

Posted: to News Updates on Mon, Feb 14, 2022
Updated: Mon, Feb 14, 2022

MassPI supports a bill to improve access to non-opioid pain treatments for chronic pain patients.

MassPI advocates for legislation to remove non-opioid barriers to pain management.

Posted: to News Updates on Fri, Dec 17, 2021
Updated: Thu, May 26, 2022

Researchers are Making Progress in Learning More About the Science of Chronic Pain

New scientific information is providing insights into the causes of chronic pain and giving hope for future new treatments.

Posted: to News Updates on Sat, Nov 13, 2021
Updated: Sat, Nov 13, 2021

September is Pain Awareness Month

Governor Charlie Baker recognizes pain as a major public health problem and declares September Pain Awareness Month.

Posted: to News Updates on Wed, Sep 1, 2021
Updated: Thu, Sep 16, 2021

SAVE THE DATE! MassPI 2021 Fall Pain Education Webinar

Posted: to News Updates on Thu, Aug 19, 2021
Updated: Mon, Aug 23, 2021

MassPI Steering Council leader recognized for excellence as a clinician and mentor

Mary Jane Estrada-Lyder, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, received the 2021 Exceptional Advanced Practice Clinician and Mentor Award

Posted: to News Updates on Fri, Apr 30, 2021
Updated: Fri, Apr 30, 2021

New CDC Report Shows Opioid Guidelines Have Not Slowed Drug Overdose Deaths

The CDC’s focus on prescription opioids has left synthetic fentanyl and other drugs to expand sign

Posted: to News Updates on Tue, Feb 16, 2021
Updated: Fri, Apr 30, 2021

September is Pain Awareness Month

Governor Charlie Baker recognizes pain as a major public health problem and declares September Pain Awareness Month.

Posted: to News Updates on Tue, Sep 8, 2020
Updated: Tue, Sep 8, 2020

AMA indicates the CDC opioid guideline has harmed pain patients

The American Medical Association released a 17-page letter providing comment addressing the CDC opioid guideline update.

Posted: to News Updates on Wed, Jun 24, 2020
Updated: Wed, Mar 3, 2021

CDC Updated Opioid Guidelines Comment Period Deadline

CDC updated opioid guidelines open comment period deadline is June 16, 2020

Posted: to News Updates on Thu, May 14, 2020
Updated: Fri, May 15, 2020

Mass. study challenges assumptions on risk of overdose death from legitimately prescribed opioids

Only 1.3% of overdose deaths in Massachusetts from 2013-2015 were correlated with a current opioid prescription

Posted: to News Updates on Sun, Nov 17, 2019
Updated: Sun, Nov 17, 2019

New Mass. Advisory for Best Practices in Prescribing Opioids

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine clarifies its guidance for prescribing opioids.

Posted: to News Updates on Thu, Nov 14, 2019
Updated: Thu, Nov 14, 2019

September is Pain Awareness Month

Governor Charlie Baker recognizes pain as a major public health problem and declares September Pain Awareness Month

Posted: to News Updates on Fri, Aug 30, 2019
Updated: Fri, Aug 30, 2019

Important new FDA labeling information about managing opioid pain medications

FDA addresses danger of abruptly ending opioids and clarifies its position for providers

Posted: to News Updates on Tue, May 14, 2019
Updated: Tue, May 14, 2019

New Pain Management Questions on Hospital Satisfaction Survey

CMS changed Hospital Satisfaction Survey pain management questions from whether pain was "controlled" to whether pain was "discussed"

Posted: to News Updates on Sun, Dec 17, 2017
Updated: Sun, Dec 17, 2017

Doctors Cutting Opioids Even If It Harms Patients

A new survey by the Boston Globe shows physicians are reluctant to prescribe opioids even if the medicines are beneficial to patients. Go to http://bit.ly/2iv5VxQ to read the article

Posted: to News Updates on Tue, Jan 3, 2017
Updated: Tue, Jan 3, 2017

Recommendations of Governor’s Opioid Working Group

Posted: to News Updates on Thu, Aug 18, 2016
Updated: Thu, Aug 18, 2016

Law Enforcement and Pain Patients

Pain News Network Guest Columnist John Burke, past president of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators and current president of the International Health Facility Diversion Association discusses treatment, abuse and diversion.

Posted: to News Updates on Wed, Mar 2, 2016
Updated: Wed, Mar 2, 2016