Recently, CAP held a roundtable discussion called “Pain Management in the Crosshairs” to anecdotally discuss their careers in pain management, from measuring pain across diverse populations, to safely prescribing in a culture of pill-popping, to insurance challenges and where the industry goes from here. 

Many physicians feel they are not well informed about the indications, risks, benefits, and side effects of medical cannabis. Considering the inconsistency with federal and state laws and the mixed messages between legislation and government action, it is easy to see why most physicians have opted to avoid the issue until the confusion clears.

When reporting their findings, it is common to see consulting physicians recommend further testing. Absent such an explicit recommendation, a patient’s decision to bypass conservative measures can spell trouble for all.

Intended to end “surprise medical bills” for consumers, Health and Safety Code Section 1371.30 became effective on July 1, 2017, following Governor Brown’s signature on AB 72 in the 2016 session.

Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using electronic communication, information technology, or other means, between a physician in one location and a patient in another location with or without an intervening healthcare provider.