Miller-Meeks, Colleagues Introduce Alternatives to PAIN Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) today introduced the “Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act,” legislation that would provide greater access to non-opioid treatments for pain management for seniors.

“It is critical that we turn the tide on the opioid addiction and opioid overdose crisis in America,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks. “I am proud to introduce the ‘Alternatives to PAIN Act’ to ensure that new opioid alternatives and others currently on the market, are made available for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. We encourage all prescribers to seek non-opioid medication or non-medication treatments or alternatives (if medically warranted) to reduce pain, including before and after surgery.”

“Too many families are burdened by the risk of opioid dependency,” said Rep. Barragán. “That is why I am proud to join Rep. Miller-Meeks in co-leading the Alternatives to PAIN Act. This bill is a critical step forward in the effort to provide Americans with safe, effective, and non-addictive options for managing acute pain. Together, we are working to ensure that patients across our country have access to a full spectrum of pain management therapies, empowering them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.”

“Too often, cost barriers and outdated policies push patients toward addictive opioids instead of safer, non-opioid alternatives for pain management,” said Rep. Panetta. “The bipartisan Alternatives to PAIN Act would take critical steps to change that by ensuring Medicare Part D beneficiaries have greater access to non-opioid treatments. By reducing cost-sharing, eliminating burdensome restrictions, and expanding patient choice, this legislation will help prevent addiction before it starts and provide seniors with the care they deserve.”

“We lose 200 Americans every day from an opioid-related drug overdose,” said Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices – a national coalition dedicated to preventing opioid addiction in the United States. “For some, the path to addiction can start after being prescribed an opioid. Unfortunately, there are substantial economic disincentives towards utilizing non-opioid pain approaches. This legislation addresses these inequities and ensures that non-opioids are easily and readily accessible to all Americans.”

“As leaders of the Billion Pill Pledge, one thing we know for certain is that we must supplant opioids with safer alternatives. One of the best ways to achieve this is by ensuring the widespread availability of non-opioid treatments.” said John Greenwood, COO, Goldfinch Health. “The Alternatives to PAIN Act will go a long way in expanding patient access to these critical options and reducing opioid reliance, ultimately improving pain management for millions of Americans.”

Background:

As too many of our constituents are painfully aware, the United States is facing a public health crisis caused by prescription drug addiction. Unfortunately, our country’s seniors are not immune to the worsening opioid epidemic. In 2021, 1.1 million seniors were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder, and 50,400 seniors experienced an opioid overdose-from prescription opioids, illicit opioids, or both. Tragically, the number of Americans aged 65 and older who died as the result of a natural or semisynthetic opioid overdose increased 63 percent between 2012 and 2020. 

Now, more than ever, we must prevent unnecessary opioids from becoming prevalent in medicine cabinets, homes, and communities. We can do this by increasing the use of non-opioids for pain management. Non-opioid treatments and therapies can be successful in replacing, delaying, or reducing the use of opioids which is why we believe it is necessary for Congress to advance policies that give practitioners and patients more access to these non-addictive treatments.

The opioid epidemic is estimated to cost U.S. taxpayers $1.5 trillion every year. Unfortunately, all-too-often cost considerations incentivize health insurers – including Medicare Part D sponsors – to employ utilization management practices intended to steer patients towards lowest cost options, which typically end up being generic opioids. We must change this practice to ensure that these plans make non-opioid therapies just as accessible to patients as opioid-based pain approaches.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in opioid prescribing in Medicare Part D increasing over the past decade. In fact, Medicare Part D’s share of overall opioid prescriptions dispensed in the United States has increased 75 percent just since 2011. 

With several new opioid alternatives in the pipeline and others currently on the market, it is essential we encourage robust access to these therapies for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. That is why we’ve introduced the Alternatives to PAIN Act. This bipartisan piece of legislation would:

• Limit patient cost-sharing for patients receiving non-opioid based pain relief under Medicare Part D plans;
• Prohibit the utilization of step therapy and prior authorization for these drugs; and
• Encourage the continued dialogue between patients and their healthcare professionals about preferences in pain management choices.

###