If you find yourself searching “pain management doctors that accept Medicaid near me,” then look no further. Finding non-opioid pain management treatments that are covered by Medicaid can be a daunting task. This is because Medicaid coverage of non-pharmacological alternatives varies from state to state. Luckily, by and large, many of the most popular treatments are usually covered. But, just because they are covered does not mean that they are actively “encouraged” by state and national policies. This simply means that these alternative treatments are often not highly publicized making it more difficult to know where you can receive treatments that are covered.
In this article, we will discuss how to make sure that your pain management treatments are covered by Medicaid. After all, if you are in pain, then the last thing you need to worry about is how you are going to cover costs.
First, What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income individuals or families who do not have enough money to pay their medical bills. It was created as part of the Social Security Act passed on August 14th, 1935. The purpose of the act was to provide health care services to people with limited resources. In other words, Medicaid provides financial assistance to those who cannot afford healthcare.
The federal government funds Medicaid through two programs: Title XIX and Title XXI. These programs were established under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. They also include Medicare Part A & B which covers hospitalization expenses.
Medicaid is an excellent resource for seniors as they are often living on a fixed income.
What does Medicaid cover?
There are three main categories of benefits provided by Medicaid: Medical Assistance, Long Term Care Insurance, and Home Health Services. MA pays for doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-rays, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, dental procedures, mental health counseling, nursing home stays, hospice care, dialysis, and rehabilitation.
Long-term care includes long-term skilled nursing facility care, assisted living facilities, adult daycare centers, personal care homes, intermediate care facilities, and residential care facilities. LTC helps patients recover from illness or injury so that they may return to independent living.
Home health services help patients stay at home while recovering from illnesses or injuries.
Check If Pain Management Therapy is Covered in Your Area
Whether we like it or not, Medicaid coverage varies from state to state. Since Medicaid is a program that is supported on both the federal and state level, then this means that it is very much decentralized. Although some states may have similar coverage for non-pharmacological pain management treatments, others will vary greatly. To make matters more complicated, this also includes your specific city or county within the state.
This means that it can be difficult to know exactly what is covered across the board.If you are unable to find information regarding your state’s coverage, then one of the best things that you can do is to contact a local Medicaid agent or representative. The easiest way to find a Medicaid agent in your area is by visiting your state government website for information on how to contact your local representatives. you have found the contact information, then it’s just a matter of calling or emailing them and asking them directly if pain management therapies are covered in your area.
Although, keep in mind that even with the best intentions, state and local representatives may not know the answer to your questions. If this is the case, then you can ask them if there are any pain management clinics in your area that accept Medicaid patients. This should give you a general idea of what types of treatment options are available to you locally.
Check Pain Management Clinics for Covered Pain Therapies
If you are unable to find answers about Medicaid coverage in your area, then the next step is to check pain management clinics in your area. Since most states will allow for some form of coverage for these therapies, then it is likely that there are local clinics that provide them. If not covered by Medicaid directly, then many clinics will offer financing or other payment alternatives to make these treatments more affordable.
One of the easiest ways to check pain management clinics for covered therapies is by using Google Maps. This should return to any pain management clinic near you that is accepting new patients. If not, then it could be a good idea to ask your doctor if they know of any providers in your area that accept Medicaid. Even if they do not, it will still be helpful to know if there are any providers in your area that provide this service.
Alternative Treatments Commonly Covered by Medicaid
While each state has its own rules governing what is covered and what is not, there are some pain management therapy options that are commonly covered by Medicaid.
As of 2021, Medicaid Part B assists in covering the following pain management related medical services:
- Physical therapy
Physical therapy works by helping patients recover from injuries and illnesses. The goal of physical therapy is to help patients regain strength and mobility. Physical therapists use various techniques such as exercise, massage, heat, cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and manual manipulation to treat patients.
- Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists help patients recover from injuries and illnesses. They also teach them new skills such as cooking, sewing, and gardening. Occupational therapists use physical, psychological, and social methods to help patients regain their independence.
- Chiropractic services
Chiropractic services are used for treating injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures. The chiropractor uses his hands to manipulate the spine and joints to relieve pain and restore function. Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other conditions.
- Acupuncture for low back pain
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that uses needles to treat various conditions. Low back pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit doctors. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments.
Other pain management treatments that might be covered depending on your area include:
- Therapeutic injections -These include trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, and joint injections. Therapeutic injections are commonly used to treat joint and back pain.
- Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique used to measure physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, brain waves, muscle tension, and breathing patterns. This information is then displayed graphically for the patient to view. The goal of biofeedback therapy is to help patients learn how to control these responses through relaxation techniques.
How Would I Know if a Pain Management Doctor is Covered by Medicaid?
When searching for “pain management doctors that accept Medicaid near me” into a search engine like Google or Bing, you are likely to get some very mixed results that are not too helpful. So, here are some tips to help you find the right doctor.
First, call your insurance provider or state Medicaid and CHIP program. Usually, insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP websites have a way to search for providers based on your location or zipcode as well.
You can also take advantage of this tool provided by medicare.gov which helps you compare different providers. This can help make it easier when narrowing down your options. This tool is also very helpful because it only lists doctors that do accept Medicaid.
Visit MidSouth Pain for Pain Management Therapies
When searching “pain management doctors that accept Medicaid near me,” feel assured that there are accessible treatment options available to you.
No matter what type of pain you are dealing with, there are ways to address it with non-opioid pain management therapies. While not all options may be covered by Medicaid, it is a good idea to speak with a pain management specialist. These medical professionals are able to design a treatment plan that best addresses your unique needs.
MidSouth Pain is treating pain in Tennessee and Mississippi. There are three pain treatment clinics located in Southhaven, Oxford, and Tupelo, MS, and two clinics in Jackson and Cordova, TN.
Schedule an appointment today to discover your pain treatment options!
