Senators Introduce Relief of Chronic Pain Act to Address Opioid Crisis

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Senator Steve Daines have introduced the Relief of Chronic Pain Act to increase access to non-opioid pain management options for people living with chronic pain. The bill aims to address the ongoing risks of prescription drug addiction, particularly for older adults and those with chronic pain. With one in five adults living with chronic pain, and almost half experiencing high-impact chronic pain, the bill seeks to provide effective alternatives to opioids and reduce the $550 billion in direct healthcare costs annually.

Key Takeaways:

• The Relief of Chronic Pain Act would waive deductibles for qualifying non-opioid pain-management drugs for chronic pain.
• The bill would place such drugs in the lowest cost-sharing tier to reduce barriers to effective non-opioid therapies.
• Prescription opioids should not be the first-line treatment for chronic pain, especially for older adults and people living with chronic pain.
• Medicare beneficiaries face heightened risks associated with long-term opioid use due to gaps in Medicare Part D coverage.
• The bill would prohibit step therapy and prior authorization practices for non-opioid pain-management drugs.
• Sen. Cantwell has traveled extensively to understand the opioid crisis, including visits to 10 communities across Washington State and participation in the National Tribal Opioid Summit.
• The Senator has championed specific legislative solutions, including the Fatal Overdose Reduction Act and the Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act.

Statistics:

• 60% of drug overdoses in Washington state over the last two decades involved opioids.
• 1 in 5 adults in the United States live with chronic pain, with almost half experiencing high-impact chronic pain.
• $550 billion in direct healthcare costs are associated with chronic pain annually.
• $1.5 trillion in costs have been overshadowed by opioid use disorder and overdose in 2020.
• Effective non-opioid therapies could reduce healthcare costs and mitigate the opioid crisis.

Sources:

• Senator Maria Cantwell's news release on the Relief of Chronic Pain Act
• Office of Senator Maria Cantwell, Washington: News Release
• ["Relief of Chronic Pain Act" by Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Steve Daines.]