ASA-Endorsed Legislation Included in Year-End Appropriations Package

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is pleased HR 3259, the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act introduced by Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL-7) and Representative David McKinley (R-WV-1) was signed into law. This bipartisan legislation expands access to non-opioid medication for Medicare patients by addressing barriers to non-opioid pain management. 

The NOPAIN Act directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide separate reimbursement under Medicare for non-opioid treatments used for pain management in both the hospital outpatient department (HOPD) and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings. The Senate companion legislation, S. 586, was introduced by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

ASA supports a multimodal and interdisciplinary approach to pain treatment and believes this policy encourages the best possible care for patients.