Don't Put Veterans Like Me at Risk of Losing Access to Non-Opioid Pain Treatment

I am a veteran writing to inform you of an issue that needs your prompt attention. I have recently learned of the likely loss of a fully-covered benefit offered through the US Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Medical Massage Therapy (MMT). In-home and in-office Medical Massage Therapy is currently available through VA as a cost-effective, non-invasive way simultaneously to relieve pain and reduce dependency on Opioids. Because it can be delivered in-home or locally in-office for veterans challenged by distance or their physical condition or other factors, it also reduces dependency on unavailable or overtaxed VA hospital resources and re-affirms the congressional commitment to Community Care. I myself am receiving MMT and can attest to how impactful it is in improving my quality of life. However, due to an inappropriate application of a Medicare rule known as Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR), the VA has cut a previously set reimbursement rate so deeply (by 24%) that therapists across the country have been forced to leave the program. Congressman Pappas (D-NH) has now called on VA Secretary McDonough to reverse the decision (see https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-calls-on-va-to-protect-veterans-access-to-community-care-reverse-decision-to-lower-reimbursement-rates for more details.) In an April 18 open letter to Secretary McDonough, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) ask VA to share the progress it has made towards the use of non-opioid pain management options. They want to know how many alternatives are in the National Formulary, the specific non-opioid treatments offered to address acute and chronic pain, and what Congress can do to help facilitate these efforts. They are requesting an answer by May 16, 2024. (see https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/letter-to-va-secretary-requests-update-on-non-opioid-pain-management-options-for-veterans) VA doctors who have seen the results of MMT, a non-opioid treatment for pain, know the extreme importance of treating our Veterans with therapies that enhance their mobility, mood, and overall health without the risk of the deadly addictions affecting our communities. VA’s own research shows that 92 percent of Veterans who receive MMT self-report reduced pain, increased activity, better sleep, and improved mood with nearly 50 percent reporting a reduction or elimination of over-the-counter and prescription pain medications. I strongly urge you to band together with fellow members of Congress and the members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs to reverse the VA’s decision to lower reimbursement rates for medical massage therapy (MMT) for chronic and acute pain.