Australians unable to a afford top-tier Gold private health insurance (PHI) policy will be stripped of their access to existing life-changing treatments to manage chronic pain.
The Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSANZ) has today expressed concern that these changes will drive people living with severe pain to increase their use of strong opioids, fuelling the current opioid epidemic.
“Strong opioid-related deaths in Australia now exceed heroin deaths by two-and-a-half-times, and estimates suggest more than a quarter of chronic pain patients are misusing prescription strong opioids,” said Dr Richard Sullivan, Pain Medicine Specialist Physician and NSANZ President, Melbourne.
“These numbers will increase should patients be denied access to chronic pain procedures they currently have under their existing policies,” said Dr Sullivan.
Though the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, MP stated in July that there will be “no change in price, no change in coverage” to existing policies, he has not kept his word.
Pain management neuromodulation devices, such a spinal cord stimulators, and morphine pumps will no longer be accessible under bronze and silver PHI policies. Such devices are often the saving grace for those living with severe chronic pain, who have exhausted all other pain management options.
Sydney father-of-three, John, spent the past three years going in and out of hospital due to his debilitating chronic pain and finally found relief after undergoing life-changing surgery for a neuromodulation device.
“I was a strong, touch and fearless man. But a random, unexplained occurrence left on the brink of collapse, battling pain, anxiety and depression, which my kids were watching me go through.
“If chronic pain treatments, like my surgery, were no longer accessible under private health insurance, people would be suicidal. There were times I wished I could get out of bed, just to end my life,” John said.
It is critical that Minister Hunt maintains his commitment to ALL Australians living with chronic pain, allowing them access to ALL chronic pain treatments, including devices, and allowing them the best chance at life.
To learn more, or to sign the Chronic Pain petition, head to www.accessforpain.com.au.