There is significant effort underway in Nevada to study/improve/manage the challenges associated with opioid prescribing and abuse. From our May 12 Alert (below), you know there is a coalition of stakeholders meeting during this interim to track the roll-out of legislation passed during the 2015 session and to share information about next steps.
In addition, the Governor recently announced a summit on the topic, to be held in June. The dates and the invitees are TBD. According to the press release from his office,
The Summit will focus on four priority topics:
- Duties and responsibilities of healthcare licensing boards
- Overview of current coordination and opportunities for expanded collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement
- Review of existing rehabilitation practices and substance abuse treatments
- Cooperation and oversight for private sector issues, including sale and availability of pharmaceuticals
In addition, we are coordinating with NSMA on their efforts to establish a subcommittee of their Government Affairs Committee to develop recommendations from the physician/prescriber perspective on the topics below. We have shared the AAOS guidance on this topic with NSMA; you will find it attached to this message. The NVOS board has been asked to recommend a member to serve on this committee and will do so.
Finally, the new Nevada chief medical officer has been identified. He is John DiMuro, DO, MBA, formerly with SpineNevada in Reno and Carson City. Dr. DiMuro is dual board-certified in both Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and fellowship-trained in Pain Medicine.
