It’s Time to Give Our Seniors More Options to Manage Pain

The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact across the country, yet one group has largely been overlooked in the conversation—seniors. Many older adults rely on prescription opioids to manage chronic pain or post-surgical discomfort, often for extended periods. This prolonged use significantly increases their risk of developing an opioid use disorder. In fact, experts estimate that approximately 1 million seniors are currently struggling with opioid addiction.

To effectively address opioid abuse among seniors, it's essential to scrutinize Medicare's role. While opioid prescriptions have been declining nationwide since 2011, the number of prescriptions covered by Medicare has increased by over 1 million. I experienced this issue personally with my parents after their surgeries. Both were prescribed opioids for pain management, and I moved in with them for several weeks to monitor their doses and ensure they didn't become dependent. I'm concerned about what might have happened if I hadn't been there. Seniors need more options for managing pain that don't carry the risks associated with opioids.

Fortunately, non-opioid, non-addictive pain relievers are on the horizon, which could be transformative for older Americans at risk of opioid abuse—but only if they have access to these alternatives. There’s legislation pending in Congress called the Alternatives to PAIN Act that would make that happen by ensuring Medicare covers these treatments just as soon as they hit the market. Under the bill, Medicare beneficiaries would pay the same costs for these alternative treatments as they would for generic opioid pain medications. I am hopeful that our congressional delegation will co-sponsor this important bill, ensuring that older New Jerseyans have more options to manage their pain.