Restore Medicare Access to Procedures —End Discrimination and Geographic Inequality
Restore Medicare Access to Procedures —End Discrimination and Geographic Inequality
The Issue
DISCLOSURE: WE DONOT SEEK ANY DONATION FOR THIS PETITION, THE DONATION LINK AT THE END IS FOR CHANGE.ORG PLATFORM AND CAN BE SKIPPED!
We, the undersigned, request equal access to essential pain management treatments for all Medicare patients across the United States. Right now, regional Medicare contractors (MACs) are proposing policies that deny patients in certain states access to proven treatments like stellate ganglion blocks, trigeminal ganglion block/ablation, occipital nerve blocks, cryoneurolysis and genicular nerve ablation for knee pain. These procedures are standard care, backed by medical guidelines and years of practice.
If you live in a state like Florida, you can get these treatments. But if you live in states like New York, Maine, California, or 21 others covered by MACs (NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, CGS, and WPS), you may be denied care, if these policies are approved. This creates an unfair two-tiered Medicare system where your access to treatment depends on your zip code, not your medical needs. https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40266&areaId=all&docType=NCA,CAL,NCD,MEDCAC,TA,MCD,6,3,5,1,F,P&contractOption=all&sortBy=relevance&bc=1
These denials force patients to suffer, rely on opioids, or face unnecessary surgeries, which hurts seniors and increases costs. Medicare rules require contractors to follow medical standards and expert guidelines, but these policies ignore both.
We Request:
- Reverse these harmful policies and ensure access to all guideline-supported pain management treatments for Medicare patients nationwide.
- End geographic discrimination that denies care based on where patients live.
- Action by CMS to create national, evidence-based standards so every Medicare patient gets the care they need.
Sign this petition to stop MACs from creating barriers to treatment and to ensure equal access to pain relief for all Medicare patients.
DISCLOSURE: WE DONOT SEEK ANY DONATION FOR THIS PETITION, THE DONATION LINK AT THE END IS FOR CHANGE.ORG PLATFORM AND CAN BE SKIPPED!
2,743
The Issue
DISCLOSURE: WE DONOT SEEK ANY DONATION FOR THIS PETITION, THE DONATION LINK AT THE END IS FOR CHANGE.ORG PLATFORM AND CAN BE SKIPPED!
We, the undersigned, request equal access to essential pain management treatments for all Medicare patients across the United States. Right now, regional Medicare contractors (MACs) are proposing policies that deny patients in certain states access to proven treatments like stellate ganglion blocks, trigeminal ganglion block/ablation, occipital nerve blocks, cryoneurolysis and genicular nerve ablation for knee pain. These procedures are standard care, backed by medical guidelines and years of practice.
If you live in a state like Florida, you can get these treatments. But if you live in states like New York, Maine, California, or 21 others covered by MACs (NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, CGS, and WPS), you may be denied care, if these policies are approved. This creates an unfair two-tiered Medicare system where your access to treatment depends on your zip code, not your medical needs. https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40266&areaId=all&docType=NCA,CAL,NCD,MEDCAC,TA,MCD,6,3,5,1,F,P&contractOption=all&sortBy=relevance&bc=1
These denials force patients to suffer, rely on opioids, or face unnecessary surgeries, which hurts seniors and increases costs. Medicare rules require contractors to follow medical standards and expert guidelines, but these policies ignore both.
We Request:
- Reverse these harmful policies and ensure access to all guideline-supported pain management treatments for Medicare patients nationwide.
- End geographic discrimination that denies care based on where patients live.
- Action by CMS to create national, evidence-based standards so every Medicare patient gets the care they need.
Sign this petition to stop MACs from creating barriers to treatment and to ensure equal access to pain relief for all Medicare patients.
DISCLOSURE: WE DONOT SEEK ANY DONATION FOR THIS PETITION, THE DONATION LINK AT THE END IS FOR CHANGE.ORG PLATFORM AND CAN BE SKIPPED!
2,743
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on October 14, 2025