Addressing the Opioid Crisis

By Ted Regalia, vice president of pharmacy benefits at Network Health

A nationwide effort to address the ongoing opioid crisis has made some progress, however, challenges still exist. The good news is, according to the American Medical Association, there has been a 44.4 percent decrease in opioid prescriptions between 2011-2020. Despite this progress, opioid related deaths continue to rise nationwide. Opioid use disorders can happen to anyone. These disorders include opioid addiction, which can interfere with a person’s health, well-being and quality of life, not to mention the hardship and strain it can cause to loved ones.

What are we doing to address the opioid use crisis?

Our members, providers and Network Health all have a role in keeping our communities safe.

Physicians or Prescribers

The State of Wisconsin has implemented a monitoring program that requires prescribers to consult a website any time they prescribe a controlled substance that includes opioids. This website displays prescriptions from other physicians and pharmacies across the U.S. and Wisconsin, so the prescriber has a full picture of the medications a patient is receiving. Furthermore, Wisconsin physicians are required to take continuing education classes on safe opioid prescribing.

Network Health

We have implemented quantity limits on new prescriptions for members who have not had an opioid in the last six months. In other words, if you are not a routine opioid user, you will be limited in the number of pills you can get at a time. This is important to prevent unused opioids sitting in the cabinet which could pose a risk for unintentional ingestion, overdoses or getting into the wrong hands. We have also put a prior authorization in place for cases where high-dose opioids are medically necessary.

Medication Assisted Treatments

For patients experiencing opioid use disorders, specialized physicians have several different medication therapies that may assist. Using medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies helps maintain recovery. If you are concerned about your opioid use, please contact your personal doctor to discuss the options you have available. To find out more about medication assisted treatment plan coverage, call the number on your member ID card.

Pharmacies

Wisconsin permits a pharmacist to dispense naloxone without a prescription. Naloxone is an opioid antidote and is a life saver in cases of opioid overdose. We strongly recommend you discuss naloxone with your physician and/or pharmacist. Ensure you teach those around you how to use naloxone in the event of an accidental overdose. Doing this can save lives.

You, Our Members

You play the most important role. If you need pain control, make sure you are using additional treatment options, including other medications, physical therapy and other interventions suggested by your doctor, to help minimize your use of opioids. Also, make sure you are storing your pain medication in a safe, secure place. Do not share your medications with anyone else. And, if you have unused pain medication, make sure to dispose of it either at your pharmacy or follow disposal instructions provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Disposal instructions can be found on the FDA’s website, fda.gov