Office of Medical Communications

Massage therapy is one of the complementary treatments offered in the PATH program.

(NOVEMBER 8, 2023) The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) within the State of Vermont’s Agency of Human Services, which administers the Vermont Medicaid health insurance program, is partnering with the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in a pilot program that will allow Medicaid members to receive integrative, holistic treatment for chronic pain through the Partners Aligned in Transformative Healing (PATH) program at UVMMC’s Comprehensive Pain Program, a clinical arm of UVM’s Osher Center for Integrative Health. Up to 100 Medicaid members suffering from chronic pain who are referred by their UVM Health Network doctors will be able to participate in the pilot program, according to the Rutland Herald.

PATH is a 16-week outpatient program that approaches chronic pain from a “whole person” perspective, using conventional medical treatment along with complementary therapies. Participants are afforded access to integrative therapies—many, such as Reiki, massage therapy, culinary medicine, and yoga, not previously covered by Medicaid. Participants will also engage in group and a variety of other therapies, including psychologically informed physical therapy, health coaching, nutrition, and occupational therapy.

DHVA and the UVM Medical Center have collaborated on a bundled payment model that allows patients access to the full program for one fixed price, rather than billing separately for each visit and service type.