Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks led a group of 44 lawmakers in sending a letter on May 4 to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, asking the agency to expand access to non-opioid pain treatments for Medicare beneficiaries.
The lawmakers said their goal is to reduce reliance on opioids and improve health outcomes for seniors by ensuring timely and meaningful access to newly approved, evidence-based non-opioid medications under Medicare Part D plans. This issue is significant as opioid use continues to pose risks such as falls, fractures, cognitive impairment, dependence, and hospitalization among older Americans.
“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact opioid overuse can have on patients and their families,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “Seniors deserve access to safe, effective pain management options. This letter is about making sure Medicare policies keep pace with medical innovation and give patients access to the full range of treatments available to them.”
The letter outlined several priorities: ensuring favorable formulary placement for clinically appropriate non-opioid medications; reducing unnecessary utilization management practices that delay or restrict access; and aligning plan designs with goals of improving outcomes while promoting value-based care.
Despite approval of new therapies, many seniors face barriers due to restrictive coverage policies and delayed formulary decisions. The lawmakers argue that expanding alternatives can help improve recovery rates and quality of life while lowering long-term costs in the Medicare system.
Miller-Meeks has represented Iowa’s 1st district in Congress since replacing Dave Loebsack in 2021 according to Ballotpedia. She previously served in the Iowa Senate from 2019 until her election to Congress as reported by Congress.gov. Born in Herlong, California in 1955, Miller-Meeks now lives in Le Claire according to her congressional biography, and graduated from Texas Christian University with a BSN degree in 1976.
