Sec. 10. National Academies study
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The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the National Academies ) to carry out a study on the addition of coverage under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act of alternative treatment modalities (such as integrative medicine, including acupuncture and exercise therapy, neural stimulation, biofeedback, radiofrequency ablation, and trigger point injections) furnished to Medicare beneficiaries who suffer from acute or chronic lower back pain.
Such study shall, pursuant to the contract under this paragraph, include an analysis of— scientific research on the short-term and long-term impact of the addition of such coverage on clinical efficacy for pain management of such beneficiaries; whether the lack of Medicare coverage for alternative treatment modalities impacts the volume of opioids prescribed for beneficiaries; and the cost to the Medicare program of the addition of such coverage to treat pain and mitigate the progression of chronic pain, as weighed against the cost of opioid use disorder, overdose, readmission, subsequent surgeries, and utilization and expenditures under parts B and D of such title.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, pursuant to the contract under subsection (a), the National Academies shall submit to Congress a report on the study under subsection (a). To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary.