Bill Introduced To Improve Treatment Access For Adults With Chronic Pain
U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have introduced the “Relief of Chronic Pain Act,” which will increase access to non-opioid pain management options under Medicaid Part D for those living with chronic pain.
“One in five adults in the U.S. live with chronic pain, like arthritis, nerve pain and fibromyalgia. The last thing they should have to worry about is access to safe and reliable treatments. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Sen. Cantwell to help ease the burden on those who deal with chronic pain by expanding access to non-opioid therapies,” said Daines. “Opioids were involved with over 60% of drug overdoses in Washington state in the last two decades. That’s why we must invest in pain-management options that do not involve addictive drugs. This bill will allow seniors to access non-opioid pain management options to treat chronic pain and help with longer term recoveries,” said Cantwell.
In the United States, one in five adults live with chronic pain. Of the 50 million adults living with chronic pain, almost half experience high-impact chronic pain, limiting productivity and contributing to over $550 billion in direct health care costs annually.
The opioid crisis remains an active public health emergency, underscoring the ongoing risks of prescription drug addiction. The danger is especially pronounced for older adults and people living with chronic pain.
Among Medicare beneficiaries, diagnosed opioid use disorder is both among the highest and the fastest-growing in the nation. Given the heightened risks to older adults and the availability of effective alternatives, prescription opioids should not be first line treatment for chronic pain. Yet plan design and the very low cost of generic opioids create barriers to effective non‑opioid therapies.
With the costs of opioid use disorder and overdose having exceeded $1.5 trillion in 2020 and a growing pipeline of non‑opioid options, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries have access to non‑opioid therapies is critical.
The “Relief of Chronic Pain Act” would address gaps in Medicare Part D coverage for people with chronic pain and the heightened risks associated with long-term opioid use by: Waiving deductibles for qualifying non-opioids for chronic pain; Placing such drugs in the lowest cost-sharing tier; and Prohibiting step therapy and prior authorization practices for such drugs.
