Opioid education program
Effective January 1, 2018, prescribing medical providers applying for initial credentialing for SelectNet must complete an educational course on prescribing and managing opioids within the first year of joining the network.
Network providers must demonstrate successful completion of one of Pinnacol Assurance’s approved opioid awareness courses, as described in Exhibit B of the SelectNet contracts. Failure to comply with the requirement may jeopardize continued network participation.
Courses that meet the requirement will provide proof or evidence of competency for these topics:
- Assessing the patient risk for addiction
- Understanding of drug interactions and opioid tolerance
- Interpreting drug screen results based on opioid metabolism
- Recognizing symptoms of opioid overdose
- Instructing patients on opioid use, alternatives, and side effects.
Within one year of network affiliation, a copy of the course certificate of attendance should be forwarded to credentialing@pinnacol.com.
Pinnacol-recommended opioid courses for providers
Multiple organizations offer courses on opioid awareness, prescribing and management. Pinnacol does not intend to direct the type or duration of medical treatment you may prescribe. We understand you must exercise your independent medical judgment in these matters.
Our goal is to assure safe and effective pain management through education that provides alternatives to opioids, best practices for starting and stopping opioid therapy, screening for at-risk patients and monitoring adherence to therapies.
New SelectNet providers can choose from a variety of courses. Pinnacol recommends several options. The first is a course locally produced by the Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health ($49 fee). The second is SAFE Opioid Prescribing (Strategies. Assessment. Fundamentals. Education) produced by the American College of Physicians (free). These are among the many options available to physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants (see below for additional Pinnacol-approved courses).
Opioid Stewardship - Colorado School of Public Health
ACP's free opioid education courses
For providers who have completed opioid education programs within the past two years, please submit a request to credentialing@pinnacol.com for our review. A waiver of the Pinnacol course requirement needs evidence of comparable topics and competency and prior approval from Pinnacol.
| Course Title | CME? | Sponsor | Length (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisting Patients with Opioid Addiction Treatment | Yes | AAFP | 1 |
| Chronic Opioid Therapy | Yes | AAFP | 1 |
| Pain Management | Yes | AAFP | 1 |
| FP Audio Edition | Yes | AAFP | 1 |
| Opioid Prescribing: Safe Practice, Saving Lives | Yes | AANP, ASAM, AAPA | 3 |
| Safe Prescribing for Pain | Yes | NIDA | 1 |
| Managing Pain Patients Who Abuse Rx Drugs | Yes | NIDA | 1 |
| Expanding Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder | Yes | ASAM, AAPA, AANP | 24 |
| Prescribing Opioids for Pain at the Time of Changing Pain Management Guidelines | Yes | AAPM, AANI | 1 |
| Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder - Physician's Role | Yes | AMA |
1 |
| Legal and Ethical Issues of Opioid Prescribing for Acute Dental Pain | Yes | ADA | 1 |
| Navigating Perception and Management Expectations...Opioid Taper and Integrative Approach | Yes | AAPM | 1 |
| Providing Stepped Care Management for Pain in Your Practice and Community | Yes | AAN | 1 |
| The Relief that Binds you: Pain Induced by Opioid Use and Withdrawal | Yes | ASAM | 1 |
| Interventional Pain Management: a Pain Control Strategy for the Patient in Treatment | Yes | ASAM | 1.5 |
| Prescription Opioids: Misuse, Consequences and Countermeasures | Yes | ASAM | 2.25 |
| ASAM Pain and Addiction: Common Thread - Treating Patients at Risk for Addiction/Patients with Real Pain | Yes | ASAM | 8 |
| Strategies to Reduce the Harm of Prescription Drugs | No | SAMHSA | |
| Prevent Prescription Drug Dependence or Misuse - Part 1 | No | SAMHSA | 1 |
| Decrease the Availability and Supply for Non-Medical Use - Part 2 | No | SAMHSA | 1 |
| Preventing Nonfatal and Fatal Overdose from Prescription Drugs - Part 3 | No | SAMHSA | 1 |
| Prescription Opioid Treatment Study | No | ATTC | Self-study |
| Supporting Recovery with Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) | No | ATTC | 1-3 |
| Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit | No | ATTC | online |
| Scope of Pain | No | COPIC | 2 |