NY State Non-Opioid Treatment Consideration Bill
The NY State Assembly and Senate passed a bill requiring practitioners to consider non-opioid alternative treatments for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. The Assembly version of the bill is A273 and the Senate version is S4640.
At the time of this writing, the bill has not yet been sent to the NY Governor to be signed.
Conservative Care Consideration
The bill will require the consideration of conservative care treatments to manage and alleviate chronic pain. The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines chronic pain as “pain that lasts more than several months (variously defined as 3 to 6 months, but longer than “normal healing”).”
The requirements of the bill do not apply to prescribing practitioners in these circumstances:
- Medical emergency
- Immediate post-surgical care
- Hospice or other end-of-life care
- Cancer treatment
Non-Opioid Treatment Options
The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain recommends primary care physicians prescribing opioids for chronic pain consider conservative treatment options. Some of the non-opioid alternative options are:
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Integrative therapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation - TENS)
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Exercise
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Non-opioid medications (e.g., acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], antidepressants, and anticonvulsants)
Non-Opioid Alternative Treatments
The consideration of non-opioid conservative treatment options is an important measure to avoid opioid dependence and overdose.
Many conservative treatments can assist a patient struggling with chronic pain. Any non-opioid alternative treatment option that prevents a patient from needing an opioid prescriptions deserves consideration by the practitioner and patient.
Our Team of Professionals
Elite Medical Supply offers durable medical equipment (DME) that can be included in integrative therapy treatment programs in-office or at a patient's home. We dispense recovery and pain management devices that include:
- TENS
- Orthopedic braces - spine, knee, neck, extremity
- Cervical and Lumbar Traction devices
Our team of Board Certified Orthotic Fitters and Chiropractors serve all of NY State. They offer in-office and at-home fitting and training services for orthopedic bracing and electrotherapy devices.
Whether you're a medical professional or a patient, the team of professionals at Elite Medical Supply are here to support your needs. Contact us today to learn more.