An Issue Brief from the Center for Healthcare Innovation & Policy
In the United States, and throughout the world, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted virtually every aspect of life, and in many countries the humanitarian crisis has become incalculable. The pandemic also disproportionately affected those living in poverty, communities of color, and essential workers in service industries for whom working at home was not an option.
During the pandemic, many facilities were forced to prioritize the delivery of healthcare to those with the most urgent needs. Non-acute, elective, and routine care for pain management was considered non-essential in many cases, causing significant downstream impact on chronic pain sufferers. Importantly, social isolation and emotional distress caused by the pandemic amplified pain in much of this population.