Jay Greene's latest article in Crain's Detroit Business discusses the recent move by Blue Cross to limit opioid prescriptions to a 30-day supply. Here are few excerpts from the article that explain the decision:
- In Michigan, 1,365 people died of opioid overdoses in 2016, compared to 884 in 2015 and 426 in 2012, meaning Michigan's overdose rate has tripled since 2012, said the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
- Doctors, pharmaceutical companies and health insurers have been criticized over the past two years for their roles in enabling the opioid addiction crisis.
- Physicians have taken steps to limit prescriptions after surgeries and ensure patients have true pain and are not doctor shopping. Many providers and first-responders have also been trained to use naloxone opioid overdose kits.
