From March 29 to April 12, 2022, the U.S. Pain Foundation conducted a nationwide survey to better understand the impact of chronic pain. A total of 2,378 individuals responded to the survey. Respondents included 2,275 people with chronic pain (96%), defined as pain lasting three months or more, as well as 72 caregivers (3%) and 31 health care professionals (1%). 

One of the main findings of the study was the fraught relationship between people with pain and their health care providers. At best, people with pain feel their health care providers are not equipped to manage their pain effectively; at worst, people with pain feel unsupported and stigmatized. 

To more deeply explore this important issue, and what can be done to improve the patient/provider relationship, the U.S. Pain Foundation is hosting a two-part webinar series. The series will look at the breakdown of the patient and provider relationship and how to mend it.

Part 1: The Problem — Tuesday, September 27 | 1-2:30pm ET

Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of U.S. Pain Foundation, will share data from the survey addressing the problem of a fractured patient-provider relationship. CMS spokesperson, Morgan Taylor, who worked on the creation of the CMS Chronic Pain Journey Map, will discuss what CMS heard, and therefore depicted in the Journey Map, about the fraught patient-provider relationship. A patient or patients will then share their struggles to find care, and the stigma they encountered.

Part 2: Finding Solutions — Thursday, September 29 | 1-2:30pm ET

Cindy Steinberg, Director of Policy & Advocacy for the U.S. Pain Foundation, will review policy initiatives previously tried, and explore where they have stumbled.  A spokesperson from CMS will discuss CMS’s CY2023 Physician Fee Schedule announcement of issuing two new CPT codes specifically for comprehensive chronic pain management. This will allow doctors to devote more time to patients’ treatment plan and care coordination. Dr. Scott Fishman will discuss his work and efforts to improve graduate medical education in pain management while Dr. Dave Nagel will discuss the source of provider attitudes toward patients and how to improve them.

Each session will be approximately 90 minutes, and include a Q&A discussion.  The webinar series is free to attend, but registration is required.