Morning Parnell,
Below are some details on the Controlled Substance Stewardship Program here in Maine. Nesin sits on the board and he’s anything BUT impartial. They find Doctor’s who are helping patients through the PMDP force them to a board hearing and require they take classes at CCSME to get their practices in order. This DRACONIAN program was put together by Dr Noah Nesin with a small grant from the FEDS. They were so successful in Maine the State gave Schmidt the State contract. We cannot find much detail on Larry Clifford, but we have much data on Noah Nesin, St. Joe’s and Penobscot County Health Centers. In 2016 Schmidt boasted 77% success rate force tapering patients off opiate therapies. Our question was what about the remaining 23% of patients. What happens to them?
Please have a staffer reach out. This is a KEYNOTE issue for voters in n2028, especially once they find out treating chronic pain in America is all but gone. I challenge you to do a Perplexity search on treating chronic pain in Maine.
Larry Clifford is the Director of Planning & Development at the Schmidt Institute in Maine, which is a collaborative venture between St. Joseph Healthcare and Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) focused on clinical and translational research, especially in opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing and care models for chronic pain management. The Schmidt Institute is known for its Controlled Substance Stewardship (CSS) program, which assists clinicians with evidence-based prescribing, tapering, and alternative pain management strategies.[wmari +1]
Larry Clifford’s role as Director of Planning & Development places him at the heart of these initiatives, including program outreach, interdisciplinary clinical case review coordination, and supporting the development of state-wide prescribing recommendations. He serves as a primary contact for information about the Institute and its stewardship programs for substance use and chronic pain, indicating leadership and project management qualifications relevant to healthcare program implementation. However, public profiles and organizational information do not specify his academic degrees or clinical qualifications; his expertise appears centered on program planning, development, and clinical care model innovation in Maine’s healthcare system.[maine +2]
the new legal plunder and the transfer of wealth
For precise details on Clifford’s professional credentials (such as degrees or licensing), it is recommended to contact the Schmidt Institute or review official biographies, as current public sources focus on his organizational leadership and healthcare programmatic experience rather than listing specific qualifications. I scrubbed the internet, very little information available one Larry.
In summary, the Controlled Substance Stewardship Program at the Schmidt Institute is a central, non-punitive resource for Maine prescribers of opioids and other controlled substances, designed to promote safety, compliance, and compassionate care for patients with chronic pain or substance use disorders.
The principals of the Schmidt Institute overseeing prescribers in Maine’s Controlled Substance Stewardship Program are Larry Clifford, who serves as Director of Planning & Development, and Dr. Noah Nesin, a long-standing family physician, health policy leader, and recognized expert in evidence-based prescribing and practice transformation. Larry Clifford is often cited as the primary administrative contact for the stewardship project, responsible for overall planning and development of the institute and its educational efforts. Dr. Nesin provides clinical leadership, teaches CME-accredited sessions on stewardship principles, and is widely involved in advisory roles related to opioid policy, medication safety, and clinical excellence in Maine.[wmari +2]
These individuals are central to the program’s design and delivery, facilitating both the educational and clinical oversight components for Maine’s prescribers within the Schmidt Institute.
Maine’s Controlled Substance Stewardship Program, administered through the Schmidt Institute, provides structured support, education, and technical assistance to prescribers of controlled substances in Maine, particularly focusing on opioids, benzodiazepines, and other high-risk medications. The program was initiated around 2013 and has become a key resource for providers seeking to navigate Maine’s strict prescribing laws, improve patient safety, and reduce risks of overdose and suicide.
Program Core Functions
• The Schmidt Institute delivers peer-to-peer guidance, continuing medical education, and academic detailing for prescribers flagged by Maine’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) as having higher-risk prescribing patterns.
• The program offers voluntary educational pathways and provides support for providers who need to bring prescribing practices into better alignment with peer and regulatory expectations, rather than automatic punitive referrals.
• Technical assistance is available for complex scenarios such as compassionate tapering of high-dose opioid regimens, managing patients inherited from other practices, or using non-opioid and non-pharmacological alternatives for pain treatment.
Compliance and Tapering Guidance
• The stewardship program helps providers comply with Maine laws requiring opioid prescribing limits (e.g., the 100 MME/day rule) and regulatory steps such as regular PMP checks and documented risk-benefit reviews.[legislature.maine +1]
• Emphasizes a trauma-informed, patient-centered approach to both reducing opioid dosages and managing legacy patients, aiming to minimize abrupt discontinuations and associated risks. [mesudlearningcommunity +1]
Clinical and Legal Education
• The Schmidt Institute’s services are referenced in state guidance and CME-accredited courses, which cover legal requirements, ethical tapering techniques, and best practices for safe controlled substance prescribing.[ccsme +1]
• Participating clinicians have access to Maine’s network of expert faculty, collaborative case reviews, and support in meeting the state’s legal and ethical requirements.[umaine +1]
Referral and Monitoring Pathways
• Maine providers whose prescribing behavior is deemed highest risk may be referred to licensing boards, while those at lesser risk are encouraged toward education via the Schmidt Institute’s program.[mainedrugdata +1]
• Prescribing histories are reviewed biannually, with reassessment for progress at six months and twelve months to track alignment with specialty-specific standards.[legislature.maine +1]
In summary, the Controlled Substance Stewardship Program at the Schmidt Institute is a central, non-punitive resource for Maine prescribers of opioids and other controlled substances, designed to promote safety, compliance, and compassionate care for patients with chronic pain or substance use disorders.
The principals of the Schmidt Institute overseeing prescribers in Maine’s Controlled Substance Stewardship Program are Larry Clifford, who serves as Director of Planning & Development, and Dr. Noah Nesin, a long-standing family physician, health policy leader, and recognized expert in evidence-based prescribing and practice transformation. Larry Clifford is often cited as the primary administrative contact for the stewardship project, responsible for overall planning and development of the institute and its educational efforts. Dr. Nesin provides clinical leadership, teaches CME-accredited sessions on stewardship principles, and is widely involved in advisory roles related to opioid policy, medication safety, and clinical excellence in Maine.[wmari +2]
The principals of the Schmidt Institute overseeing prescribers in Maine’s Controlled Substance Stewardship Program are Larry Clifford, who serves as Director of Planning & Development, and Dr. Noah Nesin, a long-standing family physician, health policy leader, and recognized expert in evidence-based prescribing and practice transformation. Larry Clifford is often cited as the primary administrative contact for the stewardship project, responsible for overall planning and development of the institute and its educational efforts. Dr. Nesin provides clinical leadership, teaches CME-accredited sessions on stewardship principles, and is widely involved in advisory roles related to opioid policy, medication safety, and clinical excellence in Maine. These individuals are central to the program’s design and delivery, facilitating both the educational and clinical oversight components for Maine’s prescribers within the Schmidt Institute.
Kenji
Cell: (916) 936-8727
Fax\Email fm29kmb66@hpeprint.com
