As a doctor of orthopedic physical therapy with more than 20 years of experience, I’ve treated numerous patients dealing with severe pain who were at risk for or already have opioid use disorder. This condition not only causes suffering for the patient, but also for their loved ones and caretakers. Most tragic of all is that it could be prevented with better access to alternative pain treatments covered by the patient’s health plan.

Many patients with opioid use disorder experience mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, which can complicate treatment adherence and outcomes. These patients often have a heightened fear of pain or re-injury, which can be exacerbated by opioid-induced hyperalgesia, a condition caused by long-term opioid use that can increase pain sensitivity.

Owing to these reasons, we need urgent action, which is why I support the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act, currently before Congress. This crucial legislation would make non-opioid alternatives more accessible and affordable under Medicare Part D. That’s good policy even before you stop and consider what it would mean for Medicare to not have to spend $33 billion on opioid use disorder treatment every year. Those savings could fund other critical health care needs, from addressing the shortage of primary care physicians to expanding mental health services.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act would ensure seniors don’t pay more out-of-pocket for non-opioid pain treatments than they do for opioids. This common-sense approach to health care policy would remove financial barriers that often force patients to choose opioids over safer alternatives. The widespread support for this legislation across party lines demonstrates its fundamental soundness as health care policy.

California has already made a considerable effort to address this crisis, but it’s not enough. Our state has expanded access to naloxone without a prescription, increased overdose prevention awareness, and utilized the Overdose Data to Action grant to strengthen prevention strategies. But our lawmakers should also look at what other states including Maine and Tennessee have done to expand coverage for non-opioid alternatives to all their residents. Even if passage of the Alternatives to PAIN Act moves forward, it won’t benefit Medi-Cal recipients without state-level legislation or executive action.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act will not only improve the health care system, but also the livelihoods of Californians and so many across the country. For every patient I’ve treated who developed dependency issues, for every family member who’s watched a loved one struggle with opioid use disorder, and for every senior who deserves safer pain management options, we need to act now. 

While several members of California’s delegation are already cosponsoring the bill, I urge the remaining representatives to show their support, maintain momentum for a healthier future, and pass this important legislation. I also implore California legislators and Governor Gavin Newsom to mandate parity through legislation or executive action and ensure Medi-Cal recipients can also access non-opioid pain treatments. Let’s make the Alternatives to PAIN Act a reality for the well-being of our communities and future generations.

Rama Venkataramani is a doctor of orthopedic physical therapy with her own practice, Blessed Physical Therapy, and over 20 years of clinical experience and training in California, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.