Sen. Thom Tillis | Sen. Thom Tillis Official Website
Sen. Thom Tillis | Sen. Thom Tillis Official Website
This week, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to increase access to non-opioid treatments for pain management among seniors.
Senator Tillis emphasized the ongoing impact of the opioid crisis on families and communities, particularly in North Carolina. "This bipartisan, pragmatic legislation will help prevent opioid addiction before it starts by leveling the playing field for non-opioid alternatives, ensuring seniors have uninterrupted access to non-opioid, non-addictive alternatives," he stated.
Senator Kelly highlighted the need for providing Arizona seniors with better choices beyond addictive opioids. "By expanding affordable access to safer, non-opioid treatments, we’re helping prevent addiction and giving seniors better options for attending their health," he said.
Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices, pointed out that preventing opioid addiction involves avoiding unnecessary exposure to prescription opioids. He noted that current institutional preferences and economic incentives often make non-opioid approaches inaccessible. "The Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation ('Alternatives to PAIN') Act would ensure that non-opioid approaches are just as easily accessible as other medications," Fox remarked.
The legislation is co-sponsored by a group of senators from both parties including Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Budd (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jim Banks (R-IN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
The United States continues to face a public health crisis due to prescription drug addiction, with seniors also affected by this epidemic. In 2021 alone, 1.1 million seniors were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder while 50,000 experienced an overdose from opioids.
To combat this issue, the proposed legislation seeks to limit patient cost-sharing under Medicare Part D plans for those receiving non-opioid based pain relief. It also aims to prohibit step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs while promoting discussions between patients and healthcare professionals about pain management options.
The Alternatives to PAIN Act builds upon previous efforts such as the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation Act signed into law in December 2022 which directed separate Medicare reimbursement for non-opioid treatments used in certain medical settings.
Supporters of this new legislation include numerous organizations like Voices for Non-Opioid Choices and various health advocacy groups across the nation.
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