Protect Medicare Coverage for Peripheral Nerve Blocks
Last year, several Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) released proposed Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) that would eliminate Medicare coverage and payment for certain peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs). This policy would significantly restrict patient access to essential pain management treatments, leaving patients with significant unrelieved chronic or postoperative pain and potentially pushing them to rely on opioids or other less-targeted therapies.
If finalized, this proposal will directly impact medical providers and Medicare patients across five MAC jurisdictions. Join other medical providers in opposing this policy and working together to protect patient access to these important therapies. ASRA Pain Medicine has teamed up with ASA and other members of the Pain Medicine Coalition to fight these proposals.
U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) are working on a bipartisan congressional letter urging CMS to withdraw the proposed LCDs to preserve patient access to an effective non-opioid treatment option. We need your local member of Congress to join us in urging CMS to halt this ill-advised proposal.
Please ask your representative to join the Pettersen-Tenney congressional sign on letter today.
Please note, you do not need to select “Yes” to join the ASA Grassroots Network. Simply complete the form that appears to submit your letter to your senator. Selecting “No” will still allow you to participate in the campaign.
While the MACs claim PNBs are not medically necessary, we all know that extensive medical research supports the use of PNBs as a safe and effective procedure and an alternative to opioid use to alleviate chronic pain.
Please ask your lawmaker to urge CMS to preserve Medicare coverage of Peripheral Nerve Blocks by withdrawing LCDs that would dramatically restrict patient access to a safe and effective non-opioid treatment for pain.