Harris Gives Update on Work of AMA on Opioid Crisis

Patrice Harris, M.D., summarizes the work of the AMA Opioid Task Force, which she chairs, as a panelist at the 2018 National Health Policy Conference of America’s Health Insurance Plans last month in Washington, D.C. The session, “U.S. Opioid Crisis: What’s Working, What Doesn’t Work,” included representatives from state governments, law enforcement, and clinicians. Harris urged the use of nonopioid and nonpharmacologic treatments for pain and the removal of prior authorization, step therapy, and other barriers to medication-assisted treatment. She also discussed the need for all stakeholders to address the stigma toward those with substance use disorders.

Harris, who was the AMA Board chair for the 2016-2017 term, is running for president-elect of the AMA. She is an APA fellow and former member of APA’s Board of Trustees and will receive APA’s Jeanne Spurlock Minority Fellowship Achievement Award at APA’s 2018 Annual Meeting in May. ■