Expressing the sense of Congress on the need to improve and expand training for future physicians on properly treating pain and prescribing opioids, and for other purposes.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 8 Expressing the sense of Congress on the need to improve and expand training for future physicians on properly treating pain and prescribing opioids, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 29, 2019 Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. RUIZ, Mr. HARRIS, and Mr. BERA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress on the need to improve and expand training for future physicians on properly treating pain and prescribing opioids, and for other pur- poses. Whereas the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported more than an estimated 64,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016; Whereas 42,249 overdose deaths involved opioids generally, and over 20,000 of those deaths were due to fentanyl and synthetic opioids; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re- ported a total of 214,881,622 opioid prescriptions dis- pensed in 2016; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:11 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC8.IH HC8 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HCON 8 IH Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re- ported that 25 States and the District of Columbia saw statistically significant increases in overdose deaths from 2015 to 2016; Whereas American medical schools train future doctors and other health care providers how to appropriately treat acute and long-term pain, and provide additional training for current practitioners through continuing medical edu- cation on the same; Whereas one of the goals of the American Medical Associa- tion’s Opioid Task Force is to enhance education and training; Whereas medical schools have begun integrating content re- quired by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to address substance abuse and pain management; and Whereas the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has approved program requirements for addic- tion medicine, and there are 45 addiction fellowships across the country with a goal of having 125 by 2025: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 2 (1) medical colleges should, as part of their cur- 3 riculum, continue to improve and expand training 4 for the Nation’s future physicians about properly 5 treating pain and prescribing opioids, so that all 6 providers graduate with a better understanding of 7 proper prescribing of opioids; 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:11 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC8.IH HC8 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HCON 8 IH (2) residency programs should devote specific 1 focus to proper opioid prescribing for each specialty; 2 (3) mid-level health care providers should re- 3 ceive additional training while in school as to appro- 4 priate prescribing practices for opioids; and 5 (4) current practitioners should receive addi- 6 tional training in pain management and opioid pre- 7 scribing habits through continuing medical edu- 8 cation. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:11 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HC8.IH HC8 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS