Select Page
Ancient Remedies for Modern Lives

The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously in favor of H.R. 6110, the MOST Act. The unanimously passed bill introduced by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA 27) directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to study barriers to accessing non-drug alternatives to opioids to manage chronic and acute pain within the Medicare program, and provide a report to Congress on any existing barriers. Alternative treatments include acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical devices, and others. It also includes a directive for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a toolkit to educate beneficiaries about non-drug opioid alternatives. The bill also directs CMS to examine ways for beneficiaries to familiarize themselves with coverage for psychologist services, and requests a study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the viability of mental and behavioral health services in the Medicare Program.