[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 75 (Friday, April 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21441-21442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08127]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket No. CDC-2020-0029]


Management of Acute and Chronic Pain: Request for Comment

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of 
a docket to obtain comment concerning perspectives on and experiences 
with pain and pain management, including but not limited to the 
benefits and harms of opioid use, from patients with acute or chronic 
pain, patients' family members and/or caregivers, and health care 
providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can 
complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose)--
hereafter called ``stakeholders.'' CDC will use these comments to 
inform its understanding of stakeholders' values and preferences 
related to pain and pain management options.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2020-
0029 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Shannon Lee, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop S106-9, Atlanta, Georgia 
30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. All relevant comments received will be posted 
without change to http://regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lee, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop S106-9, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30329, 404-498-3290, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation

    Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate by 
submitting written views, recommendations, and data related to 
perspectives on and experiences with pain and pain management. CDC 
invites comments specifically on topics focused on using or prescribing 
opioid pain medications, non-opioid medications, or non-pharmacological 
treatments (e.g., exercise therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy). 
These topics are as follows:
     Experiences managing pain, which might include the 
benefits, risks, and/or harms of the pain management options listed 
above.
     Experiences choosing among the pain management options 
listed above, including considering factors such as each option's 
accessibility, cost, benefits, and/or risks.
     Experiences getting information needed to make pain 
management decisions.
    Please note that comments received, including attachments and other 
supporting materials, are part of the public record and are subject to 
public disclosure. Comments will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, do not include any information in your 
comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential, 
proprietary, or inappropriate for public disclosure. If you include 
your name, contact information, or other information that identifies 
you in the body of your comments, that information will be on public 
display. CDC will review all submissions and may choose to redact, or 
withhold, submissions containing private or proprietary information 
such

[[Page 21442]]

as Social Security numbers, medical information, inappropriate 
language, or duplicate/near duplicate examples of a mass-mail campaign. 
CDC will carefully consider all comments submitted.

Background

    Public comment will help CDC's understanding of stakeholders' 
values and preferences regarding pain management and will complement 
CDC's ongoing work assessing the need for updating or expanding the CDC 
Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, published in 2016 
(available in the Supporting Materials tab of the docket and at: 
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm). Please note that 
HHS/CDC is also planning opportunities for stakeholder engagements and 
conversations on these topics. These have been postponed because of 
COVID-19 but will be announced in a future Federal Register Notice when 
they are rescheduled.
    More information about CDC's assessment of the need for updating or 
expanding the Guideline and the establishment of a federal advisory 
committee workgroup to provide expert input and observations to CDC on 
the possible Guideline update or expansion is available at https://www.cdc.gov/injury/bsc/opioid-workgroup-2019.html. If the Guideline is 
updated or expanded, CDC would request public comment on the draft 
document through a notice in the Federal Register prior to final 
publication.
    Anyone who would like to receive information related to CDC's 
ongoing work specific to drug overdose prevention (including the 
ongoing response to the opioid overdose epidemic) as well as other 
updates (e.g., pertaining to resources and tools) may sign up at 
www.cdc.gov/emailupdates and select topics of interest. Available 
offerings include:

 Subscription Topics: Injury, Violence & Safety
 Subtopic: Drug Overdose News

    Dated: April 14, 2020.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-08127 Filed 4-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P