§294i. Program for education and training in pain care

(a) In general

The Secretary may make awards of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to health professions schools, hospices, and other public and private entities for the development and implementation of programs to provide education and training to health care professionals in pain care.

(b) Certain topics

An award may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant for the award agrees that the program carried out with the award will include information and education on-

(1) recognized means for assessing, diagnosing, treating, and managing pain and related signs and symptoms, including the medically appropriate use of controlled substances;

(2) applicable laws, regulations, rules, and policies on controlled substances, including the degree to which misconceptions and concerns regarding such laws, regulations, rules, and policies, or the enforcement thereof, may create barriers to patient access to appropriate and effective pain care;

(3) interdisciplinary approaches to the delivery of pain care, including delivery through specialized centers providing comprehensive pain care treatment expertise;

(4) cultural, linguistic, literacy, geographic, and other barriers to care in underserved populations; and

(5) recent findings, developments, and improvements in the provision of pain care.

(c) Evaluation of programs

The Secretary shall (directly or through grants or contracts) provide for the evaluation of programs implemented under subsection (a) in order to determine the effect of such programs on knowledge and practice of pain care.

(d) Pain care defined

For purposes of this section the term "pain care" means the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or management of acute or chronic pain regardless of causation or body location.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2012. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, §759, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title IV, §4305(c), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 586 .)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 294i, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, §771, as added Pub. L. 102–408, title I, §102, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2049 , authorized grants to educational entities offering programs in health administration, hospital administration, or health policy analysis and planning, prior to the general amendment of this part by Pub. L. 105–392.

Another prior section 294i, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, §736, as added Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title IV, §401(b)(3), 90 Stat. 2265 ; amended Aug. 1, 1977, Pub. L. 95–83, title III, §307(d), 91 Stat. 390 , related to participation by Federal credit unions in Federal, State, and private student loan insurance programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–408. See section 292k of this title.

A prior section 759 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 294aa of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–408.