Want to reduce opioid addiction? Remove roadblocks limiting safer pain meds | Opinion

As both a Kansas state senator and practicing ophthalmologist in Garden City, I’ve witnessed firsthand how thoughtful policies transform lives – particularly when it comes to healthcare.

The timing and type of treatment can spell the difference between a quick bounce-back and a long road of complications.

My decades in the operating room have taught me something crucial about recovery: managing post-surgical pain effectively is essential.

While opioids often seem like the go-to solution, this isn’t because they’re always the best choice – it’s because many patients either don’t know about alternatives or struggle to access them in our current healthcare system.

Our current approach to pain management leaves patients, especially seniors who are more likely to need surgical intervention, at increased risk of developing an opioid dependency.

A system that prioritizes opioids over non-addictive alternatives is a system that needs fixing.

It’s time for Congress to correct this flaw by passing the Alternatives to PAIN Act — PAIN stands for Prevent Addiction In the Nation.

This bipartisan legislation would ensure that Medicare covers FDA-approved opioid alternatives for seniors recovering from surgery and prevent opioid dependency from the beginning.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act includes necessary reforms that will remove existing regulatory barriers to care.

As a doctor, my patients and I have firsthand experience with the frustrations of navigating prior authorization requirements.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act eliminates this requirement for patients who want non-opioid treatments, meaning doctors can spend more time caring for their patients, not on the phone with insurance companies.

The legislation also bans the use of step therapy, which is the practice of requiring patients to try and fail on a cheaper treatment — often opioids — before they can access other options.

Without these hurdles in place, seniors can access the care they need without having to risk addiction first.

From my experience as a healthcare provider and a lawmaker, I also understand that patients may default to opioids because they are cheaper than alternatives.

When the choice is between a cheap opioid and a more expensive alternative, many seniors feel they have no real choice at all.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act would eliminate the financial incentive to pick opioids by making sure seniors never have to spend more out-of-pocket for an alternative than they would for a generic opioid prescription.

By leveling the playing field, this legislation guarantees that seniors and their doctors can make decisions based on what is best for their health, not just what they can afford.

In Kansas, we believe in fixing problems with practical solutions.

By passing the Alternatives to PAIN Act, Congress can take a critical step toward creating a healthcare system that prioritizes patient safety, supports effective recovery, and reduces the risk of opioid dependency for seniors.

For the sake of all Kansans, I ask that our congressional delegation support this bill.

This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 5:19 AM with the headline "Want to reduce opioid addiction? Remove roadblocks limiting safer pain meds | Opinion."