title: Roadblocks to effective pain treatment.
abstract: Managed care "backlash" rhetoric to the contrary, roadblocks to effective pain treatment occur both intrinsic and extrinsic to the healthcare system. Pain medicine, an emerging, formally recognized specialty, and the special population of patients which it serves, experience additional discreet barriers. Chief among these is a lack of clear identity and recognition of the specialty and the disenfranchisement of many of the patients it serves in the American healthcare system. Special problems within various healthcare financing environments is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Stieg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lippe
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Shepard
mesh_terms: D006076:Government; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation