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
ASRA Pain Medicine Joins Call for Medicare Telehealth Extension
ASRA Pain Medicine is among 350 organizations that have signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging action to prevent the expiration of Medicare telehealth coverage this September. Telehealth services, expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and in place for the past five years, are vital for patients who face barriers to in-person care, including those with compromised immune systems, neurodegenerative disorders, or chronic conditions. These services also improve access for individuals in rural or underserved areas and support flexible virtual staffing models that help address workforce shortages.
The letter calls for making Medicare telehealth access permanent; if that is not possible, it urges Congress to approve the longest possible extension, with at least two years to ensure stability for patients, providers, and the health care system. ASRA Pain Medicine agrees that, without action, patients and clinicians can and likely will face disruptions in care and reduced access to services.
Read the full letter here.
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ASRA Pain Medicine Joins Call for Medicare Telehealth Extension
ASRA Pain Medicine is among 350 organizations that have signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging action to prevent the expiration of Medicare telehealth coverage this September. Telehealth services, expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and in place for the past five years, are vital for patients who face barriers to in-person care, including those with compromised immune systems, neurodegenerative disorders, or chronic conditions. These services also improve access for individuals in rural or underserved areas and support flexible virtual staffing models that help address workforce shortages.
The letter calls for making Medicare telehealth access permanent; if that is not possible, it urges Congress to approve the longest possible extension, with at least two years to ensure stability for patients, providers, and the health care system. ASRA Pain Medicine agrees that, without action, patients and clinicians can and likely will face disruptions in care and reduced access to services.
Read the full letter here.
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.