Study shows Iowa does better with pain management

A new report says Iowa’s improved in its efforts to help patients manage their pain more effectively. The Pain and Policy Studies Group at the University of Wisconsin conducted the study under the direction of chief policy researcher Aaron Gilson. Gilson says Iowa made more progress than any other state. He says in the last three years, Iowa increased from a “D-plus” to a “B” in 2003. Gilson says the nation as a whole is still behind in providing consistent, balanced policies that ensure the availability of pain-relieving drugs, while controlling the misuse of the medication. He says when you consider that state policies set standards of professional practice and when those policies contain outdated concepts or ambiguous language,patients can suffer. Gilson says no states earned an “A” or and “F.” Three-quarters of the states earned a “C” or above.