ASA and Pain Medicine Coalition Convenes Meeting with MACS to Oppose Elimination of Coverage of Peripheral Nerve Blocks

On January 15, 2026, ASA physician leaders and staff, along with physicians and other representatives of the Pain Medicine Coalition – including the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – convened a meeting with representatives of the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to express strong opposition to recently proposed Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) denying coverage for Peripheral Nerve Blocks and Procedures for Chronic Pain.  The LCDs would restrict coverage for many evidence-based procedures used in chronic pain management, potentially increasing reliance on opioids.

During the discussion, the physician representatives of the PMC highlighted the devastation that this policy would cause for their patients, especially those with complex regional pain syndrome, and explained the vital role that peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) play in facilitating diagnoses and further treatments. The PMC also discussed the challenges when providing evidence for complex pain treatments for chronic pain, as replicating studies for each nerve type is unrealistic.

The PMC offered to partner with the MACs on this policy, and others like it, to ensure that any concerns for overutilization and misuse are addressed without sacrificing patient access to these effective and necessary treatments.

ASA submitted formal communication to the MACs in November opposing the LCD policy and detailing the strong evidence in support of these procedures and anecdotal evidence that supports coverage of PNBs. See previous ASA news release regarding formal communication to the MACs here. ASA also coordinated the attendance of ASA member pain physicians to speak against the ill-advised policy at the MACs’ Open Meetings in October and November of 2025.

Read Becker’s ASC Review article on the meeting here.