CIB: Medicaid Strategies for Non-Opioid Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Chronic Pain Management

Addressing the opioid crisis is a top priority for the Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is responding by promoting safe and responsible pain management, making sure patients can access treatment for opioid use disorder, and using data to target prevention and treatment. Over the last several years, we have issued several bulletins outlining state approaches and effective practices for addressing the opioid overdose epidemic within Medicaid.

We are committed to preventing and reducing opioid use disorder by promoting safe opioid prescribing and encouraging non-opioid pain treatments. Today we are issuing a Bulletin to expand on earlier guidance by providing information to states looking for ways to promote non-opioid options for chronic pain management in their Medicaid programs. This Bulletin supports the goal of reducing the use of opioids in pain management included in the President’s Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand and is consistent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) 5-Point Strategy to Combat the Opioid Crisis. This Bulletin meets the requirements of Section 1010 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Pub. L. 1115-271), which requires CMS to issue guidance to states on mandatory and optional items and services for non-opioid treatment and management of pain that may be provided in the state Medicaid program.  

The Bulletin is available on Medicaid.gov here: https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-Guidance/index.html.