[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19565-19566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09379]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Meeting of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task 
Force

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hereby giving notice 
that a meeting is scheduled to be held for the Pain Management Best 
Practices Inter-Agency Task Force (Task Force). The meeting will be 
open to the public; public comment sessions will be held during the 
meeting.

DATES: The inaugural meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 
from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and Thursday, May 31, 2018, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time The agenda will be posted on 
the Task Force website at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/pain/index.html.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, Great Hall, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 
DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Richmond Scott, Designated 
Federal Officer, Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task 
Force, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 736E, 
Washington, DC 20201. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101 of the Comprehensive Addiction 
and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) authorizes the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in cooperation with

[[Page 19566]]

the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to convene the Task 
Force no later than two years after the date of the enactment of CARA 
(by July 22, 2018) and develop a report to Congress with updates on 
best practices and recommendations on addressing gaps or 
inconsistencies for pain management, including chronic and acute pain. 
The Task Force is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App), 
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees.
    The Task Force will identify, review, and determine whether there 
are gaps or inconsistencies between best practices for pain management, 
including chronic and acute pain, developed or adopted by federal 
agencies; propose updates to best practices and recommendations on 
addressing identified gaps or inconsistencies; provide the public with 
an opportunity to comment on any proposed updates and recommendations; 
and develop a strategy for disseminating such proposed updates and 
recommendations to relevant federal agencies and the general public.
    This inaugural meeting of the Task Force will consist of an 
overview of various topics surrounding pain management, and the 
establishment of the Task Force subcommittee structure. Federal, state, 
local, and professional medical and health organization representatives 
will provide their current perspectives on pain management. The Task 
Force will discuss clinical best practices, gaps and inconsistencies 
focused on prevention and treatment; mental health and addiction; 
special populations; education; providers; payors; service and 
delivery; and research and innovation. Personal testimonials of people 
living in pain will be given. The Task Force will deliberate and vote 
on establishing subcommittees for developing the report to Congress. 
Information about the final meeting agenda will be posted prior to the 
meeting on the Task Force website: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/pain/index.html.
    Members of the public are invited to participate in person or by 
webcast. To join the meeting, individuals must pre-register at the Task 
Force website at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/pain/index.html. Seating will be provided first to those who have pre-
registered. Anyone who has not pre-registered will be accommodated on a 
first come, first served basis if additional seats are available 10 
minutes before the meeting starts. Individuals who need special 
assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable 
accommodations, should indicate the special accommodation when 
registering online or by notifying the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Health via email at [email protected] by May 22, 
2018. The subject line of the email should read, ``Task Force Meeting 
Accommodations.'' Non-U.S. citizens who plan to attend in person are 
required to provide additional information and must notify the Task 
Force staff via email at [email protected] 10 business days before 
the meeting, May 16, 2018. For those unable to attend in person, a live 
webcast will be available. More information on registration and 
accessing the webcast can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/pain/index.html.
    Members of the public can provide comments at the Task Force 
meeting during the following designated dates and times: May 30, 2018 
from 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Eastern Time and May 31, 2018 from 1:50 
p.m. to 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time. Public comments made during the meeting 
will be limited to three minutes per person to ensure time is allotted 
for all those wishing to speak. Individuals are also welcome to submit 
their written comments. Written comments should not exceed three pages 
in length. Individuals submitting written comments should submit their 
comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by May 25, 2018.

    Dated: April 26, 2018.
Vanila M. Singh,
Chief Medical Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2018-09379 Filed 5-2-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P