PROVIDENCE, RI. – Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed
into law legislation that would require insurers to
cover non-opioid based chiropractic and
osteopathic treatments for pain for people with
substance-use disorders.
The legislation (S-O789Aaa and H-6124Aaa)
introduced by Sen. Frank Lombardo |||, D-Johnston,
and Rep. Gregg Amore, D-East Providence, requires
patients with substance-use disorders to be given
access to evidence-based non-opioid pain
treatment. Patients seeking the treatments must
have insurance coverage, and the chiropractic care
and osteopathic manipulative treatments must be
deemed medically necessary and be performed by
licensed individuals.
“With the opioid crisis worsening every day, it is
imperative that insurance companies cover
alternate and effective treatments for chronic pain,
especially in the case of patients with substance
use problems,” Sen. Lombardo said in a statement
released Tuesday.
Amore said: “It is no secret that opioids have been
overprescribed in our state and that has led to a
health epidemic. For many patients, particularly
those with substance abuse problems, opioids are
the wrong choice to manage pain. This bill will
ensure that other proven treatments for pain are
covered by insurance, hopefully lessening the
impact of opioid abuse in our state.”
Dr. Louis Crivelli
Chairman of the Board – Maryland Chiropractic
Association
Maryland Delegate —American Chiropractic
Association
Secretary – Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and
Practice Parameters