Comstock bill would stop nationwide over-prescription of opioids

Toward curbing over-prescribed opioids across America, U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) on April 11 unveiled a bipartisan bill that would help give doctors pain management alternatives.

“Opioid addiction has torn apart families and latched onto communities throughout the nation, leaving behind a tumultuous wake,” said Rep. Comstock, who added that fewer prescribed opioids equates to lower addiction rates.

To help doctors get to that point, the congresswoman said they need better clinical data on non-opioid alternatives and more prescribing options.

The Better Pain Management Through Better Data Act of 2018, H.R. 5473, would direct the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update or issue new guidance on the data collection of non-opioid pain management practices. H.R. 5473 also would require that such data be included on product labeling, according to the draft text of the bill provided by Comstock’s office.

“Due to the risks inherent in opioid use, medical use of opioids should be a decision that is made with great care and this bill will better inform this decision so patients and doctors have the best available data at their fingertips when considering treatment routes,” said Rep. Comstock.

H.R. 5473 would direct HHS to investigate collecting data on opioid-sparing treatment options outside the clinical trial process, according to the draft text, which cites partially controlled studies and objective trials without matched controls as potential data sources.

“This is a critical public health tool that will help patients with painful medical conditions manage their pain with care, and have the best treatment option available to them while being mindful of the many patients who have fallen into the cycle of opioid abuse and addiction after being prescribed an opioid,” added Rep. Comstock.

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) is an original cosponsor of H.R. 5473, which has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.