ASRA Pain Medicine, along with fellow members of the Pain Medicine Coalition (PMC), welcomes a bipartisan Congressional letter urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to oppose proposed policies that would eliminate Medicare coverage for peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs).

Signed by 25 members of Congress, the letter raises concerns that the proposed Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) would deny Medicare patients access to proven, non-opioid pain treatments and undermine ongoing efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

Lawmakers emphasized that peripheral nerve blocks are supported by medical evidence, expert consensus, and clinical experience. They can provide effective pain relief, improved function, and enhanced quality of life, without requiring opioid use. They also warned that restricting access to these treatments could lead to increased opioid use and misuse among patients who rely on ongoing pain management.

The proposed LCDs, issued by five Medicare Administrative Contractors, including Palmetto GBA, WPS, CGS, National Government Services, and Noridian, would limit coverage for PNBs and certain procedures used in chronic pain treatment.

As a founding member of the PMC, ASRA Pain Medicine has been actively engaged in the coordinated advocacy efforts behind this action, working with partner organizations to ensure policymakers understand both the clinical value of PNBs and the real-world impact of restricting access. Physician leaders and staff from the PMC have also met directly with MACs to reinforce the strong clinical, scientific, and patient-reported evidence supporting these procedures.

For ASRA Pain Medicine members, this issue has direct implications for patient care and clinical practice. The proposed policies could limit access to established, evidence-based treatments, narrow non-opioid care pathways, and shift how pain management is delivered for Medicare patients.

ASRA Pain Medicine will continue its work through the PMC to advocate for coverage policies that reflect clinical evidence, support patient access, and align with national efforts to reduce reliance on opioid-based therapies.