Be Ready for New Strategies to Promote Safe Opioid Use

You'll see new twists on existing efforts to ensure safe opioid use...more payer limits, expanded REMS, changes in state laws, etc.

Medicare Part D plans will limit initial opioid Rxs for acute pain to a 7-day supply in 2019, similar to many states and other payers.

Part D plans may also "lock in" patients to one opioid prescriber and pharmacy, similar to many Medicaid programs. Expect this for patients on at least 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME)/day in the last 6 months...AND getting opioids from multiple prescribers or pharmacies.