Letter to the Editor: Safe treatments for pain at affordable prices

As chair of the Jasper County Republicans and a current candidate for Jasper County Supervisor, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many members of our community and hearing about what matters most to them. I look forward to these conversations, but it’s not always easy hearing about the struggles our neighbors are going through — that’s especially true during the times I’ve talked with those who’ve been impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Through these discussions, I’ve learned just how easily those who struggle with pain can fall into addiction after taking opioids, as well as the trauma that can result from that addiction. These personal tragedies have materialized into heartbreaking statistics here in Iowa, where opioid overdose deaths have more than tripled over the last decade.

That’s why I believe it’s urgent for lawmakers to take decisive action to ensure patients know about and have better access to non-addictive treatments for pain.

This field of medicine is making some truly incredible advancements that could be a huge help in our fight against the opioid epidemic. Earlier this year, it was reported that a first-of-its-kind, non-opioid medicine for acute pain could be approved by regulators for public use in the near future. This means that soon patients will be able to treat their pain without having to rely on highly addictive drugs they could get hooked on. But we’ll only reap the good that comes with these safer treatments if patients are able to access them at an affordable price.

Thankfully, a group of lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to do just that: the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act. Iowa is fortunate to have representatives who are so attentive toward this pivotal issue, as Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks was one of the bill’s original co-sponsors. This legislation aims to make non-opioid treatments accessible and affordable for our nation’s seniors who are enrolled in the federal healthcare program Medicare. We need to expand access to patients of all ages, but seniors in particular have a heightened exposure to opioids due to their greater need for pain relief from the ailments and injuries that can occur as we get older.

The Alternatives to PAIN Act will deliver non-opioid access to seniors by mandating that under Medicare Part D plans, patients pay no more for non-opioids than they would for more addictive, generic opioids. The bill will also increase awareness of the treatment options that are out there by encouraging the continued dialogue between patients and their healthcare professionals about preferences in pain management choices.

Here in Iowa, we need our congressional delegation to join Representative Miller-Meeks in working to turn this bill into law, as it’ll help make sure that Iowans don’t develop an opioid dependency simply because their insurance forced them to rely on opioids, the only treatment they could afford.

While not a silver bullet that solves every factor fueling the opioid crisis, the Alternatives to PAIN Act takes necessary first steps toward combating the opioid-caused devastation our communities have felt for too long. I urge our representatives in Congress to do the right thing and pass this life-saving bill.

Thad Nearmyer

Monroe