Trump Delivers First State of the Union Address

On Tuesday, January 30, President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress, acknowledging several of ASA’s key priorities.

As the opioid abuse epidemic continues across the nation, President Trump acknowledged, “Never before has it been like it is now. My administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need." ASA is working to educate the public about best practices for pain management, including techniques used by physician anesthesiologists to decrease reliance on opioids during and after surgery, as well as alternative treatment options to manage chronic pain. ASA is committed to ending opioid abuse and has launched several initiatives to combat the epidemic. Read more about our work on this issue:

• Premier Inc. Launches National Hospital Initiative to Improve Opioid Safety, Partners with American Society of Anesthesiologists
• When Seconds Count: Pain Management: Non-Opioid Treatment
• ASA President Dr. James Grant Participates in CMS Summit on the Opioid Crisis
• President’s Opioid Commission Releases Final Report with Recommendations to Address Opioid Epidemic

In his address, President Trump also committed to take proper care of our Veterans. ASA is pleased the President wants to improve access to health care for our nation’s Veterans and ensure they receive the best possible care. ASA advocates on behalf of Veterans and has worked to protect the health and safety of Veteran-patients by preserving high quality physician-led anesthesia care in VA. When seconds count, physician anesthesiologists save lives.

Read the full text of the 2018 State of the Union address here.