The American Medical Association opposes CDC guidelines of not allowing physicians to make their own pain management judgement calls for prescribing pain medications. The American Medical Association (AMA) is toughening their opposition to both public and private policies that currently seek to limit opioid prescribing.  Resolutions were passed this week, by the AMA House of Delegates, calling for prescribing guidelines to be changed to allow the clinical judgement of doctors to decide when higher doses of opiate medications are necessary medically. The ruling by the AMA also appealed for an end to blacklisting of doctors who prescribe high doses of opiate medications.

No Basis in Science

Originally the AMA had agreed with the guidelines, when the CDC released the controversial opioid guideline in 2016. Patricia Harris, MD chaired the AMA task force to reduce opioid abuse at the time.  She had stated that the AMA was largely supportive of the guidelines. Harris is now the AMA President and has been quoted as saying, “The guidelines have no basis in science.” Dr. Harris also was quoted as saying, “Physicians can’t be expected to fight the epidemic with one hand tied behind their back, handicapped by policies that limit choices for patients and have no basis in science.”

The American Medical Association Opposes CDC Guidelines

Last November the AMA House of Delegates passed resolutions opposing the misuse of the guidelines by pharmacies, insurers, states and regulatory agencies.  Even though the guidelines of 2016 are voluntary the results have been devastating to chronic pain patients. Many patients have been forcibly tapered to low doses, totally cut off their medications, and in some cases abandoned by their doctors.

An End to the CDC Guidelines

The AMA’s ruling body is currently calling for an end to the inappropriate use of the CDC guidelines that set dosing limits and blacklist physicians who prescribe over the dosing limits. The CDC acknowledged that current policies and practices have been inconsistent, and many times have gone beyond CDC recommendations. The CDC guidelines need a major overhaul.  Fortunately, The American Medical Association opposes CDC guidelines.