 About QCCPPThe American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in collaboration with other stakeholders has established the Quality Care Coalition for Patients in Pain (QCCPP). QCCPP seeks to ensure that nursing home residents, hospice patients and others have access to appropriate and timely pain medication by (1) advocating to eliminate barriers to access resulting from laws, regulations and policies governing the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances; (2) promoting compliance and best practices by educating providers, prescribers, consumers and their caregivers about appropriate prescribing and dispensing practices.Changing the Controlled Substances Act will take sustained effort from QCCPP, requiring a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary group. QCCPP has been structured to ensure broad participation. Membership is open to all individuals as well as for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and entities. NewsSeptember 2, 2010 ASCP, Other Organizations Respond to June Federal Register Notice from DEA ASCP and other LTC and senior care organizations responded to the June 29 DEA Request for Information Notice, “Dispensing of Controlled Substances to Residents at Long Term Care Facilities.” The organizations submitted comments directly to DEA this week. March 24, 2010 QCCPP Releases Survey Report, Participates in Senate Listening Session on DEA Issues On March 24, in conjunction with the release of the QCCPP Special Report "Patients in Pain: How US Drug Enforcement Administration Rules Harm Patients in Nursing Facilities," ASCP leaders Ross Brickley and Robert Warnock, both certified geriatric pharmacists, testified before a Senate Special Committee on Aging "listening session" entitled, "The War on Drugs Meets the War on Pain: Nursing Home Patients Caught in the Crossfire." Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, presided. The purpose of the session was to examine the challenges associated with dispensing of pain medication in nursing homes across our country, an issue Senator Kohl termed "very serious -- one that impacts the daily well-being and comfort of millions of elderly Americans." Learn more about the listening session and download the report by clicking here. March 9, 2010 Senate Special Aging Committee to Hold Hearing on DEA and Patients in Pain ASCP has confirmed that the Senate Special Aging Committee will hold a hearing later this month on the impact of DEA rules on frail, elderly and dying patients in long-term care. The hearing is open to the public but space may be limited. The time and place of the hearing have not yet been finalized. Please watch the ASCP website for further details, or join the QCCPP mailing list for the most up-to-date news! March 9, 2010 ASCP leads QCCPP delegation to meet with Attorney General Eric Holder's Office On March 9, ASCP Director of Policy and Advocacy Claudia Schlosberg led a delegation representing the Quality Care Coalition for Patients in Pain (QCCPP) to meet with Attorney General Holder's office. The purpose of the meeting was to educate the Attorney General's key advisors regarding the impact of the DEA policies on patient care. The meeting was cordial and the AG's staff asked several questions particularly about the role and presence of physicians in long-term care. Other members of the delegation included Rebecca Elon, MD, a geriatrician with Greater Geriatrics at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Ross Brickley, RPh, the President of CCRX of North Carolina, Ron Buzzeo RPh and Ralph Breitfeller. December 11, 2009 DEA Responds to Sen. Kohl and Sen. Whitehouse's Letter--and QCCPP Writes Back! The DEA has responded to Senator Kohl and Senator Whitehouse's letter, which had raised concerns about the inability of nursing home and hospice patients to receive timely, adequate access to pain medication and other controlled drugs. DEA did not address the Senators' concerns; instead, DEA's response states that it has discovered that some pharmacies affiliated with long-term care facilities are violating the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations. Among practices cited are reliance on chart orders and hospital discharge summaries. The Quality Care Coalition for Patients in Pain wasted no time in responding to the Drug Enforcement Administration's letter to Senators Kohl and Whitehouse. In its letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, dated December 10, 2009, QCCPP points out the differences between what DEA allows in hospitals and in nursing homes, and the resulting impact on patients. The letter explains how strict compliance with DEA rules and policies adds additional steps that can significantly delay treatment. The letter goes on to state: "While we respect and support DEA's mission to ensure that controlled drugs are not being diverted and are only used for legitimate medical purposes, the needless suffering that patients are now enduring demands that a balance be achieved that addresses these legitimate law enforcement concerns without causing harm to patients." Join Today!Click here to sign up! Be a part of our efforts and help us promote the appropriate, safe, effective and timely use of pain medications for these patients. We also invite to you make a financial contribution to the coalition. Your voluntary contribution helps support QCCPP's efforts. |
