Medicaid Support Group

This community is dedicated to the pros and cons of Medicaid, and how to best take advantage of Medicaid to improve one's health. Medicaid is the US health insurance program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

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Medicaid & Pain Management

ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
I'm curious. If you receive Medicaid and have chronic pain is your pain managed by pain meds, alternative methods or both ? Also do you see a pain management dr or does your pcp prescribe the meds ?
ShannonA
ShannonA
Usually they want to hit it with both at once. At least that is what I have found. And the pain management doctor will be the one prescribing meds for you from there on out so far as your pain is concerned.
I've been to a few PM specialists and one had me on a Tens Unit along with medication, and had one PM specialist only go with medications.
Of course with Medicaid, unless you have been on narcotic pain meds with the doctor you were seeing previously, most PM clinics will make you take everything under the sun before even thinking about giving you a narcotic prescription.
Hope this helps.
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
Thanks ShannonA. I know the pressure to not prescribe pain meds and certain other meds to Medicaid patients has really taken hold. I know the concerns with abuse and misuse is across the board. But it seems like those on Medicaid are suffering more than most. For example in Louisiana, Medicaid won't pay for Pain Management. Which means if you have Medicaid, you can't even get an appt with a Pain Management Dr or a Pain Management Clinic.That means it is up to your pcp to prescribe the pain meds and they are uneasy about doing so. When a patient is on disability due to severe chronic pain and severe restricted mobility, there seems like there should some compromise.