19.3104.01000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3036
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representative M. Nelson
1 A concurrent resolution requesting the Legislative Management to consider studying whether
2 gaps in or inconsistencies between current practices and best practices for acute and chronic
3 pain management exist for injured workers.
4 WHEREAS, more than 100 million Americans live with chronic pain caused by various
5 diseases or disorders, and, each year, nearly 25 million Americans suffer with acute pain; and
6 WHEREAS, though medical knowledge and technology exist to relieve or greatly ease pain,
7 most pain is untreated, under treated, or improperly treated, and many health care
8 professionals are unaware of how to effectively treat pain; and
9 WHEREAS, the workers' compensation industry's approach to chronic pain historically has
10 been trying drugs and other medical procedures first; if the pain has not subsided or has
11 worsened, other forms of treatments and therapies are considered and explored; and
12 WHEREAS, to help injured workers in pain and prevent opioid abuse and other
13 unnecessary measures, a reversal of the current protocol is necessary; and
14 WHEREAS, it is critical for the state to explore other practices for acute and chronic pain
15 management, including a balanced pain management approach based on a biopsychosocial
16 model of care;
17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
18 NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
19 That the Legislative Management consider studying whether gaps in or inconsistencies
20 between current practices and best practices for acute and chronic pain management exist for
21 injured workers; and
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study includes reviewing and considering a
23 multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain which focuses on the patient's medical condition,
24 comorbidities, and various aspects of care, and consideration of innovative solutions to pain
25 management such as telemedicine, telementoring, and mobile applications for behavioral and
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 Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly
1 psychological skills, and whether newer medicines and medical devices should be utilized as
2 part of the overall approach to pain management; and
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Management report its findings and
4 recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations, to
5 the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly.
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