Insurance Company Tackles Opioid Overprescribing

When Americans think of health insurance providers, warm thoughts do not typically come to mind. There are probably examples, ad infinitum, when such companies put their bottom-line before patient care and recovery. However, there are times when commendation may be warranted, believe it or not.

It is widely accepted that the American opioid epidemic began with over prescribing of powerful prescription painkillers, such as OxyContin (oxycodone). Even today, over a decade and half later, many doctors still continue with prescribing practices that led to the crisis we face. And, what’s more, a large percentage of physicians are resistant to being told how or when to prescribe opioids.

In fact, one insurance company is using data from insurance claims by pharmacies to determine which physicians prescribing practices are far from usual, The Washington Post reports. Aetna is using the information to urge doctors to change their ways which may help in the fight against the opioid epidemic killing as many as 78 people per day in this country alone. Last week, Aetna wrote to 931 physicians who refill opioid prescriptions at very high rates when compared to their peers, stating that, "You have been identified as falling within the top 1 percent of opioid prescribers within your specialty."

"By nature, doctors are data-driven," said Harold Paz, Aetna's chief medical officer. "It's one of the skills required to get through medical school and residency and training. It's unemotional.”

If doctors see how they compare to their peers, then it may open their eyes and convince them that they could prescribe more responsibly. Changes could be made which may reduce addiction rates and ultimately save countless lives every year.

If your use of prescription painkillers has negatively impacted your life, please contact Whiteside Manor. We can help you get off such medicines, break the cycle of addiction and help you find non-addictive forms of pain management.