River Bend Times

U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) have introduced the "Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act," a bipartisan legislation aimed at providing greater access to non-opioid treatments for pain management for seniors.

Miller-Meeks emphasizes the need to address the opioid addiction crisis, stating, "It is critical that we turn the tide on the opioid addiction and opioid overdose crisis in this country." She further explains that the "Alternatives to PAIN Act" will ensure that new opioid alternatives and existing non-opioid treatments are made available for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. Miller-Meeks encourages healthcare providers to consider non-opioid medications or alternative treatments before and after surgery to reduce pain.

Cárdenas echoes Miller-Meeks' sentiments and emphasizes the urgency to combat the opioid crisis, saying, "It's time we put our words into action and address the fatal opioid crisis head-on." He believes that the "Alternatives to PAIN Act" will provide seniors with greater access to non-addictive and affordable alternatives to opioids when medically appropriate, ultimately preventing addiction and saving lives.

Chris Fox, the Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices, emphasizes the severity of the opioid crisis, stating, "220. That's how many Americans we lost every day last year to an opioid-related drug overdose." Fox highlights the importance of the "Alternatives to PAIN Act" in preventing opioid addiction by ensuring access to non-opioid pain management approaches, including at the pharmacy counter.

The United States is facing a public health crisis caused by prescription drug addiction, and seniors are not immune to this epidemic. In 2021, 1.1 million seniors were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder, and 50,400 seniors experienced an opioid overdose. The number of opioid overdose deaths among Americans aged 65 and older increased by 63 percent between 2012 and 2020.

To address this crisis, the use of non-opioid treatments for pain management must be increased. Non-opioid therapies have shown success in replacing, delaying, or reducing the use of opioids. Congress needs to advance policies that provide practitioners and patients with greater access to these non-addictive treatments.

The opioid epidemic is estimated to cost U.S. taxpayers $1.5 trillion every year. Cost considerations often lead health insurers, including Medicare Part D sponsors, to prioritize the lowest cost options, which typically end up being generic opioids. This practice needs to change to ensure that non-opioid therapies are just as accessible as opioid-based approaches.

Unfortunately, opioid prescribing in Medicare Part D has increased over the past decade. Medicare Part D's share of overall opioid prescriptions dispensed in the United States has risen by 75 percent since 2011.

To address this issue, the Alternatives to PAIN Act proposes several measures:

1. Limit patient cost-sharing for non-opioid-based pain relief under Medicare Part D plans.

2. Prohibit the utilization of step therapy and prior authorization for non-opioid drugs.

3. Encourage ongoing communication between patients and healthcare professionals about pain management preferences.

The introduction of the Alternatives to PAIN Act is a significant step towards combating the opioid crisis and ensuring that seniors have access to non-opioid treatments for pain management. This bipartisan legislation seeks to prevent unnecessary opioids from becoming prevalent in medicine cabinets, homes, and communities, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden on taxpayers.

Read the text of the bill here.