prescription opioid abuse Archives

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

High Dosage Opioid Prior Authorization Policy on Prescription Opioid Use, Misuse, and Overdose Outcomes

Daniel M. Hartung PharmD, MPH; Hyunjee Kim PhD; Sharia M. Ahmed MPH; Luke Middleton BS; Shellie Keast PhD, PharmD, MS; Richard A. Deyo MD, MPH; Kun Zhang PhD; & K. John McConnell PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 2, 2018

“This paper evaluates the impact of Medicaid prior authorization policy for high dose opioid prescriptions. Results show the policy was associated with a substantial reduction in opioid prescriptions above a daily dose of 120 morphine milligram equivalents, increases in lower dose opioid prescriptions and drugs for neuropathic pain, but had no significant impact on opioid-related ED visits or hospitalizations. As insurers and healthcare payers align reimbursement strategies and benefit designs to influence opioid prescribing, it is important to characterize both intended an unintended effects of these policy changes.”

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Interprofessional Prescription Opioid Abuse Communication among Prescribers and Pharmacists: A Qualitative Analysis

Nicholas E. Hagemeier, PharmD, PhD; Fred Tudiver, MD; Scott Brewster, PharmD; Elizabeth J. Hagy, PharmD; Brittany Ratliff, Angela Hagaman, MA; & Robert P. Pack, MPH, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 1, 2018

“Prescription opioid-related default communication behaviors among and between prescribers and community pharmacists were routinely not patient-centered in our study. Hopefully, this qualitative study will inform future work and lead to increased emphasis on communication skill building among prescribers and pharmacists. The extent to which the prescription monitoring program has replaced verbal interprofessional communication was noteworthy, as was the extent to which indirect interprofessional communication occurs via patients. In my opinion, top-notch communication skills are often assumed to be factory installed in health providers. This study indicates we have some work to do.”

The Authors’ Own Words: High Dosage Opioid Prior Authorization Policy on Prescription Opioid Use, Misuse, and Overdose Outcomes

The Authors’ Own Words: Interprofessional Prescription Opioid Abuse Communication among Prescribers and Pharmacists: A Qualitative Analysis