Perspectives in Intractable Pain Management
An analysis of current diverging viewpoints
Healthcare Coverage Influences Patient Compliance
Steps to Overcome Healthcare Reimbursement Limitations
Low priority given to the accountability of pain and pain management coupled with limited access to opioid pain treatment perpetuates inadequate intractable pain relief.1,2 Education of pain’s medical validity is necessary for government healthcare services, private reimbursement services, healthcare providers, and patients to increase opioid compliance.
Researchers have suggested steps to overcome dependency of pain treatment on healthcare reimbursement services that include:6
- establishing public education programs on opioid pain treatment and drug abuse
- urging for an increase in validity of pain management and encouraging increased opioid reimbursement
- increasing communications between physicians and pharmacists in prescribing pain treatment
- encouraging physicians to constantly examine the pain treatment they prescribe to be that it is best suited for each patient’s pain relief and optimum prescription reimbursement
- providing medication free of charge or subsidizing prescriptions to pain patients over 60 years of age
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