Medicare Coverage of Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain: Does It Move the Needle on the Opioid Crisis?

Excerpt

On January 21, 2020, in response to the opioid crisis, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain.¹ Among older adults, chronic pain is prevalent and often debilitating, and is the most common indication for opioid therapy despite limited evidence of efficacy. Opioids carry significant risk in this population, with the number of opioid-related deaths increasing more than sixfold among Americans age 65 and older between 2001 and 2016.² The CMS decision represents a promising step towards expanding non-pharmacological treatment options and reducing reliance on opioids; however, further action is needed to translate Medicare coverage of acupuncture into equitable and sustainable access. This Viewpoint considers key barriers to acupuncture dissemination and implementation and recommends strategies for addressing these obstacles. The new Medicare acupuncture policy provides a lens to explore the broader challenges ahead in pain management as policymakers seek to expand non-pharmacological options in the aftermath of the opioid crisis. …