Trump Administration Declares Opioid Crisis A Public Health Emergency
SEC. 1801. [42 U.S.C. 1395] Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize any Federal officer or employee to exercise any supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided, or over the selection, tenure, or compensation of any officer or employee of any institution, agency, or person providing health services; or to exercise any supervision or control over the administration or operation of any such institution, agency, or person.
The above statute is applicable (only) to care of patients 65 and over (under Medicare and/or Medicaid); and/or persons formally recognized as having “disabled” status under SSI or SSDI:
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title16b/1614.htm#act-b1614-a
As I watch President Trump’s speech on addressing the OVER-HYPED “opiate crisis”… the HYPERBOLE in the speech… surpassed all existing SUPERLATIVES in the English language.
Trump claimed that our Federal government is going to do some very aggressive arm bending to get the Pharmas to find/create a NON-ADDICTING OPIATE…
We have been down that path and the two drugs that was to suppose to meet that goal… Talwin & Stadol… these two drugs – been on the market for decades – either were abused and/or didn’t do much for pain management… or BOTH..
Trump claimed that we are going ELIMINATE ADDICTION…. he talked about his Brother that had abuse issue with the two drugs – ALCOHOL & NICOTINE – which we currently have an estimated 45 million addicts to the former and 35 million to the latter… but.. I guess that ADDICTION is not going to go down that path… and address those addictions… whose use/abuse of those two drugs cause 550,000 deaths each year. He also pointed out that part of the elimination of addiction was the use of DOJ suing anyone that is believed to be part of the problem.
Does all of these promises by Trump … violates sections of Title 42 as posted at the head of this post ?
Trump only mentioned the treatment of chronic pain… but.. stated that the FEDS were going to produce “best practices” in treating chronic pain… we have seen what the CDC considers “best practices” as to opiate dosing to treat chronic pain.
That section of Title 42 seems to suggest that a lot of things that numerous Federal agencies are doing or have done.. the chronic pain community may want to take the suggestion of our President that the legal route may be the only thing left to protect those with chronic pain being able to get adequate treatment will be down the legal path…
While it is claimed that 90% of the chronic pain community are struggling financially, there are 100 + million in that community and a few dollars from each into a legal defense fund could go a very long way to “level the playing field”.
No law firm is going to take on this type of case on a contingency basis, because within out judicial system the “value of life” of those who are disabled/handicapped, elderly/retired, unemployed is pretty much on par with the value of the family pet… LITTLE OF NOTHING…
Filed under: General Problems
I would be very interested in joining a campaign / legal fund IF we can find a trustworthy advocate … Like you sir 🙂 Please advise.
A chronic painer and myself tried to do this a couple of years ago… started gofundme account and after abt 30 days we had received $600 and change from a couple of dozen people with two people contributed $100 each toward that amount. Didn’t get enough to even fund the cost of creating a non-profit organization ($2000-$3000). So we drop the idea and returned the contributions to those who had submitted them.. Our goal was to get a ONE TIME DONATION of the cost of a fast food lunch $5 -$7.50 from 1%-2% of the chronic pain community. There may be more interest now… but I am not interested in going down that path again. It would seem that most of those in the chronic pain community wants change but very very few want their name, picture or finger prints on getting that done.
Times have changed???maybe???and I remember u sayen that,,,u tried this before,,and barely anyone tried it,,maryw
Steve-can or will you organize this? I think the money is there for sure, but what about the lawyers? No lawyer so far will get involved! ACLU also is not interested!! Because the ACLU will not support us now, i, for one, will never support them.
I suggested quite awhile ago that if each of us pain patients throw in $5.00 +, the lawyers would be fighting to get at our issues. Don’t know how to organize or get that going. Is there anyone out there that would like to spear head this thing? Probably the only way to be heard now.
Willing to help!!??