What Should Older Adults Know About Medicare Pain Care?
Medicare covers many pain-management services, but coverage depends on the service, medical need, and your plan. Discuss care options with your clinician and confirm coverage with Medicare or your plan before treatment.
Ongoing pain is real and worth discussing with a healthcare professional. It is not simply a normal part of aging, and a clinician can help you understand possible next steps without promising a particular result.
What Pain Management Services May Medicare Cover?
Medicare Part B covers many services used to assess or manage pain, though coverage depends on the service and applicable rules. For eligible people with persistent or recurring pain lasting longer than three months, Medicare describes chronic pain management services that may include pain assessment, medication management, and care coordination and planning (Medicare’s chronic pain management benefit).
Medicare also lists physical and occupational therapy, acupuncture for chronic low back pain, chiropractic services, behavioral health integration, depression screening, and certain mental health and substance-use services as potentially covered under applicable rules (Medicare’s pain management coverage). A service appearing on the list does not guarantee that Medicare will cover it for every person or situation. Massage therapy, for example, may not be covered.
Prescription pain medicines filled at a pharmacy may be covered through Part D, subject to the plan’s rules. Some Part D plans offer medication-management or drug-management programs to support safer use of prescription opioids. Decisions about medication should be discussed with a physician, without judgment about the treatment a person currently uses.
Does Medicare or other health insurance cover pain management?
Medicare Part B covers many pain-management services, but coverage depends on the service, medical need, and applicable Medicare or plan rules. California Pain Institute accepts Medicare and several major health plans. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, provides medication management and image-guided injections; confirm coverage and any approval requirements with your insurer and clinic before care.
What Happens During a Pain Management Appointment?
A pain management appointment usually begins with a conversation about where you hurt, when the pain began, and what makes it better or worse. The clinician will also ask how pain affects sleep, movement, and daily activities.
The clinician reviews your health history, medicines, earlier treatments, and any relevant test results or imaging. An examination may help assess movement, strength, or the area that hurts. Not every patient needs imaging or a procedure.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, [dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology](https://www.capaininstitute.com/about-dr-kerr) and UCLA-trained, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She discusses possible causes, what to expect, and goals that fit your health and daily life.
Care may include non-opiate, non-addicting medicines when appropriate, image-guided injections (injections guided by imaging such as ultrasound or X-ray), or coordination with other clinicians. Dr. Kerr explains the options and their purpose so you can ask questions and take part in decisions. Treatment plans are individualized, and results vary.
Bring a current medication list and any relevant medical records or test results you have. You do not need to gather every past record before asking for an appointment.
What Treatments Might Be Part of Ongoing Care?
Chronic pain care is shaped by its cause, symptoms, your health needs, and your goals. A plan may combine treatments rather than depend on one approach. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, is UCLA-trained and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years.
What treatments may be part of chronic pain management?
At California Pain Institute, treatment may include medication management and ultrasound- or X-ray-guided injections for spinal, nerve, joint, soft-tissue, or trigger point pain, including X-ray-guided epidural steroid injections. Dr. Kerr emphasizes non-opioid, non-addicting medicines when appropriate. Any medication choice depends on the type of pain, other health conditions, and medicines you already take. Discuss questions with your physician, and do not start, stop, or change a medicine on your own.
Care may also involve referrals for physical therapy, behavioral health, or surgery, and coordination with other specialists. The practice explains diagnoses, expected course, and treatment choices so patients can take part in decisions. Learn more about California Pain Institute services or read about personalized multimodal treatment plans for neck and back pain.
What medicines might a pain management doctor consider for chronic pain?
Dr. Kerr considers each patient’s health and current medicines when discussing options. Opioids may be part of care for some people, and decisions should be made with a physician without judgment. Dr. Kerr’s training and approach include careful evaluation and patient education. Other treatments, such as acupuncture or surgery, may be discussed or referred to, but are not services performed by the practice.
How Is Pain Care Tailored for Older Adults?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for months or longer. Care for an older adult with chronic pain should reflect overall health, medicines, mobility, memory, alertness, and personal goals. Medicare describes chronic pain care as potentially including assessment, medication management, and care coordination, but coverage depends on the service and circumstances (Medicare’s chronic pain management benefit.
Share prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, medical conditions, falls, and changes in movement or alertness with your clinician. This helps the care team consider possible interactions and choose options that fit your needs. Do not change a medicine without speaking with the prescribing physician.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and UCLA-trained, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She explains the diagnosis and choices, considers non-opioid, non-addicting medicines when appropriate, and may recommend image-guided injections or coordinate physical therapy and other specialist care. Her approach can address conditions such as arthritis pain.
Dr. Kerr, who is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years, includes patient education and coordination with other clinicians in her care. Learn more about Dr. Kerr.
California Pain Institute sees patients in Torrance in the South Bay and in Los Angeles near LAX. To schedule an appointment, visit the appointment request page.
New weakness or fever with back pain needs urgent medical evaluation. Seek emergency care for severe or sudden symptoms, including loss of bladder or bowel control.
Does Medicare Cover Epidural Steroid Injections?
Medicare may cover an epidural steroid injection when it is medically necessary and the applicable coverage requirements are met. Coverage and how often injections may be covered depend on the medical reason, documentation, local policy, and your Medicare arrangement.
An epidural steroid injection places steroid medicine near spinal nerves to address inflammation in selected conditions. It may be considered for some causes of sciatica, but it is not appropriate for every person with back or leg pain, and results vary.
There is no single frequency limit that applies to every patient. Requirements can vary by location and policy, so review the CMS Medicare Coverage Database and confirm current rules with Medicare or your plan before treatment.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and UCLA-trained, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She can discuss whether an X-ray-guided injection may be appropriate and explain other options, without assuming that a particular injection will qualify for coverage.
Does Medicare cover epidural steroid injections, and how often are they covered?
Medicare may cover an injection when it is medically necessary and the relevant policy requirements are met. The covered frequency depends on the policy, reason for treatment, and supporting documentation, so check with Medicare or your plan before scheduling.
What Should You Do Before Your Next Step?
Before scheduling care, write down what you hope to improve and any questions about your treatment or Medicare coverage. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained physician who is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years, explains options and coordinates care with other specialists when needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does age alone determine treatment? No. Your symptoms, health, medicines, and goals help guide a plan.
Should I stop a medicine that concerns me? Discuss your concern with the prescribing physician before making any change.
Can care include physical therapy? Yes. Physical therapy may be coordinated when appropriate for your needs.
Where are the offices? California Pain Institute sees patients in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and in Los Angeles near LAX.
To discuss your concerns and possible next steps, Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
