CMS Initiatives Regarding Pain-Management Issues

摘要

This article is intended to address recent initiatives by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services related to pain-management treatment guidelines and payment policies under Medicare Parts C and D. CMS has recognized that opioids are effective for treating certain types of pain, but carry significant risks, including increased tolerance, development of an opioid-use disorder, and overdose. In 2018, to counter this public-health emergency, CMS adopted a three-pronged approach focusing on 1) the treatment of new cases of opioid-use disorder; 2) the treatment of patients who are dependent on or addicted to opioids; and 3) the utilization of data across the United States to more effectively target prevention and treatment activities.