Recent bipartisan efforts in the U.S. Senate are sparking a potential shift in pain management practices, particularly for the country’s senior citizens. Sens. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, and Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, have championed legislation known as the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act. According to a press release on Sen. Kelly's website, the bill aims to increase access to non-opioid treatments for pain management, addressing the harrowing numbers of opioid overdoses in seniors—an issue resonating deeply with constituents from their respective states.
The opioid crisis has not spared the older population, with a stark increase in overdose deaths among those aged 65 and older. Diagnoses of opioid use disorder in this demographic climbed to 1.1 million in 2021, while opioid overdose deaths escalated 63 percent from 2012 through 2020. In response, Sen. Kelly stated, "Arizona seniors managing pain deserve real choices—not a system that steers them toward addictive opioids just because they’re the cheaper option." Similarly, conveying the urgency, Sen. Tillis articulated the crisis's toll on families and communities, affirming that the legislation could help preempt opioid addiction.
Backing the senators' push for non-opioid accessibility is Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices. Fox emphasized the need for equal access to non-opioid pain management, criticizing institutional preferences and economic incentives for the widespread reliance on opioids. "One way to prevent opioid addiction is by avoiding unnecessary exposure to prescription opioids," Fox said, highlighting the pivotal role the Alternatives to PAIN Act could play in bringing non-opioid options within reach for more Americans.
The legislative initiative has garnered support from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Tim Kaine, and Katie Britt among others. Senior-focused measures proposed in the bill include limiting patient cost-sharing for non-opioid pain relief under Medicare Part D and forbidding certain utilization management practices, illustrating congressional intent to move away from an over-dependence on potentially addictive substances for pain relief. Moreover, as iterated by Kelly and Tillis, the legislation encourages ongoing conversations between healthcare professionals and patients about pain management preferences.
On the financial front, with the opioid epidemic costing U.S. taxpayers an estimated $1.5 trillion annually, the Alternatives to PAIN Act may present a significant fiscal reprieve with its focus on non-opioid treatments. These alternatives, some already in the pipeline and others available on the market, could revolutionize pain management, especially once practitioners and patients gain enhanced access. Comprehensive support for the bill echoes from numerous organizations, with the likes of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and American Psychological Association Services championing the cause alongside a multitude of advocacy groups and healthcare providers.
Building on the momentum of the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NO PAIN) Act from December 2022, the proposed legislation represents a continuation of the commitment to curb opioid misuse and addiction.
