Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?

There are many ways to manage pain safely and effectively.

Pain management services offer treatment options that may help you manage your pain and related issues with less risk long term, like:

• Acupuncture for chronic low back pain
• Alcohol misuse screenings & counseling
• Behavioral health integration services
• Chiropractic services
• Chronic pain management and treatment services
• Depression screenings
• Mental health & substance disorder services
• Occupational therapy
• Opioid Use Disorder treatment services
• Physical therapy

Prescription pain medications covered under Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) may be effective at treating certain types of pain, especially during short-term use. If you have Part D, the plan may also have programs in place (like Medication Therapy Management Programs or drug management programs) to help you use prescription opioid pain medications more safely.

Talk with your doctor about all your pain treatment options.

Part B will help you cover most pain management services. However, your doctor may recommend treatment options that Medicare doesn’t cover, like massage therapy.

If this happens, or if your doctor or other health care provider recommends you get services more often than Medicare covers, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if Medicare will pay for them.

• For most pain management services, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for visits to your doctor or other health care provider to diagnose or treat your condition. The Part B deductible applies.
• If you get your services in a hospital outpatient clinic or hospital outpatient department, you may have to pay an additional copayment or coinsurance amount to the hospital.
• You pay nothing for a yearly depression screening if your doctor or health care provider accepts assignment.