Temporary additional payments for non-opioid treatments for pain relief
(i) In general
(i)In general#
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, with respect to a non-opioid treatment for pain relief (as defined in clause (iv)) furnished on or after January 1, 2025 , and before January 1, 2028 , the Secretary shall not package payment for such non-opioid treatment for pain relief into a payment for a covered OPD service (or group of services), and shall make an additional payment as specified in clause (ii) for such non-opioid treatment for pain relief.
(ii)Amount of payment#
Subject to the limitation under clause (iii), the amount of the payment specified in this clause is, with respect to a non-opioid treatment for pain relief that is—
(I) a drug or biological product, the amount of payment for such drug or biological determined under section 1395w–3a of this title that exceeds the portion of the otherwise applicable Medicare OPD fee schedule that the Secretary determines is associated with the drug or biological; or
(II) a medical device, the amount of the hospital’s charges for the device, adjusted to cost, that exceeds the portion of the otherwise applicable Medicare OPD fee schedule that the Secretary determines is associated with the device.
(ii)(I)#
a drug or biological product, the amount of payment for such drug or biological determined under section 1395w–3a of this title that exceeds the portion of the otherwise applicable Medicare OPD fee schedule that the Secretary determines is associated with the drug or biological; or
(ii)(II)#
a medical device, the amount of the hospital’s charges for the device, adjusted to cost, that exceeds the portion of the otherwise applicable Medicare OPD fee schedule that the Secretary determines is associated with the device.
(iii)Limitation#
The additional payment amount specified in clause (ii) shall not exceed the estimated average of 18 percent of the OPD fee schedule amount for the OPD service (or group of services) with which the non-opioid treatment for pain relief is furnished, as determined by the Secretary.
(iv)Definition of non-opioid treatment for pain relief#
In this subparagraph, the term “non-opioid treatment for pain relief” means a drug, biological product, or medical device that—
(I) in the case of a drug or biological product, has a label indication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce postoperative pain, or produce postsurgical or regional analgesia, without acting upon the body’s opioid receptors;
(II) in case of a medical device, is used to deliver a therapy to reduce postoperative pain, or produce postsurgical or regional analgesia, and has— (aa) an application under section 360e of title 21 that has been approved with respect to the device, been cleared for market under section 360(k) of such title, or is exempt from the requirements of section 360(k) of such title pursuant to subsection ( l ) or (m) or section 360 of such title or section 360j(g) of such title; and (bb) demonstrated the ability to replace, reduce, or avoid intraoperative or postoperative opioid use or the quantity of opioids prescribed in a clinical trial or through data published in a peer-reviewed journal;
(III) does not receive transitional pass-through payment under paragraph (6); and
(IV) has payment that is packaged into a payment for a covered OPD service (or group of services).
(iv)(I)#
in the case of a drug or biological product, has a label indication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce postoperative pain, or produce postsurgical or regional analgesia, without acting upon the body’s opioid receptors;