Perspective               

Providers are Legally Required to Tell Patients About Their Pain Treatment Options

Doctors must tell their Medicare and Medicaid patients about all pain treatment options available to them, according to a 1990 law called the Patient Self Determination Act. This law requires doctors to tell their patients about all their health care options. The law was recently interpreted by HCFA, the government agency that runs Medicare, to include pain treatment options as well as other types of care.

No matter what injury or illness you have, you should not be in pain. If you are in pain, tell your doctor. Ask her what can make you feel better. Remember, she must tell you about all your options.

If you or someone you love is terminally ill, you should look into Medicare’s hospice benefit. Hospice is a unique kind of service provided to people with advanced illnesses and limited life expectancies. Hospice works to manage the patient’s pain and other symptoms so that the patient and family can make the most of the time that remains.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit organizes a team of health and mental health providers, clergy, and others, to help people who are terminally ill live as comfortably and with as little pain as possible for the natural duration of their lives. Medicare covers most services provided by the hospice care team, including skilled nursing services, physician services, home health aide services, counseling, and medical supplies and equipment. The amount of care provided depends on the patient’s need.

Patients are entitled to the same hospice benefits whether they are enrolled in traditional Medicare or an HMO.

If you would like more information about the Medicare Hospice benefit, please call the National Hospice Organization Hotline at 1-800-658-8898 or go to www.nhpco.org. You may also call your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. The number is listed in the back of the Medicare & You booklet, that you should receive this fall. You can also get a copy by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

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