Advocacy is one of the three pillars of ASRA Pain Medicine's mission. ASRA Pain Medicine addresses this core purpose by advocating at the regulatory level in the best interest of our members and the patients they serve. (Note: ASRA Pain Medicine does not participate in political advocacy.)
The Latest Health Policy Updates
Pain Medicine Coalition Urges Coverage of Fascial Plane Blocks in Massachusetts
ASRA Pain Medicine has joined the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the International Pain & Spine Intervention Society, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to speak out against BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts’ inclusion of several fascial plane blocks as investigational/non-covered services.
Representing the Pain Medicine Coalition, the four organizations explained in a letter that CPT codes 64466, 64467, 64468, 64469, 64473, and 64474, which describe thoracic and lower extremity fascial plane block procedures, underwent two years of rigorous vetting through the American Medical Association’s CPT and valuation processes prior to being included in the Medicare physician fee schedule. The procedure codes were added to the CPT Professional Manual in January 2025.
These blocks are used to treat pain resulting from surgery, traumatic injury, or chronic diseases. They have been shown to reduce the need for opioids as part of a multimodal pain management regimen.
The letter emphasized that the effectiveness of thoracic fascial plane blocks has been proven with the highest level of evidence, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, and they are associated with reduced pain intensity and decreased opioid consumption after various chest wall surgeries.
Lower extremity fascial plane blocks have been shown to decrease pain, opioid consumption and opioid-related complications through systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
The Pain Medicine Coalition represents more than 75,000 physicians dedicated to advancing evidence-based pain management. Its goal is to develop, monitor, and advocate for responsible health care policy for people who experience acute and chronic pain, and the physicians who support them. They accomplish this mission through clinical care, education addressing quality of care, access to care, public and professional education, and research.
Read More
Pain Medicine Coalition Urges Coverage of Fascial Plane Blocks in Massachusetts
ASRA Pain Medicine has joined the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the International Pain & Spine Intervention Society, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to speak out against BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts’ inclusion of several fascial plane blocks as investigational/non-covered services.
Representing the Pain Medicine Coalition, the four organizations explained in a letter that CPT codes 64466, 64467, 64468, 64469, 64473, and 64474, which describe thoracic and lower extremity fascial plane block procedures, underwent two years of rigorous vetting through the American Medical Association’s CPT and valuation processes prior to being included in the Medicare physician fee schedule. The procedure codes were added to the CPT Professional Manual in January 2025.
These blocks are used to treat pain resulting from surgery, traumatic injury, or chronic diseases. They have been shown to reduce the need for opioids as part of a multimodal pain management regimen.
The letter emphasized that the effectiveness of thoracic fascial plane blocks has been proven with the highest level of evidence, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, and they are associated with reduced pain intensity and decreased opioid consumption after various chest wall surgeries.
Lower extremity fascial plane blocks have been shown to decrease pain, opioid consumption and opioid-related complications through systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
The Pain Medicine Coalition represents more than 75,000 physicians dedicated to advancing evidence-based pain management. Its goal is to develop, monitor, and advocate for responsible health care policy for people who experience acute and chronic pain, and the physicians who support them. They accomplish this mission through clinical care, education addressing quality of care, access to care, public and professional education, and research.
Pain Medicine Coalition
ASRA Pain Medicine and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) established the Pain Medicine Coalition (PMC) in 2024 to advance the common goals of the pain medicine community and to advocate for responsible pain care for all patients. The International Pain & Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS) and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) are also members of the coalition. Its purpose is to develop, monitor, and advocate for responsible health care policy for people who experience both acute and chronic pain and the physicians who support them. They do their work through clinical care, education addressing quality of care, access to care, public and professional education, and research.
Read more about the Pain Medicine Coalition:
ASA and ASRA Pain Medicine: Speaking With One Voice
President’s Message: The Power of ASRA Pain Medicine Volunteers
Are You a Member of AMA?
The American Medical Association (AMA) is the nation's largest physician organization and works to advocate for key issues that matter in your practice such as prior authorization, Medicare reform, promoting physician-led work, and more. ASRA Pain Medicine works with the AMA to advocate for the issues that matter in your practice with representation in the AMA House of Delegates, the Relative Value Scale Update Committee, and the Current Procedural Terminology Committees. ASRA Pain Medicine provides expert information and testimony specific to regional anesthesia and acute and chronic pain.
Learn more about the benefits of membership in AMA.
Read the latest AMA news and sign up for news alerts at ama-assn.org.
Practice Management
Find more health policy information in our Practice Management Resource Center.