In continuing efforts to address the opioid epidemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced new Medicare Part D patient policies designed to curtail abuse while still preserving access for patients in need of pain management, according to HealthPayerIntelligence.The policies include:
- Improved pharmacy safety alerts for Part D beneficiaries
- Alerts for pharmacies to review certain opioid prescriptions before filling
The policies seek to address the role of physician-prescribed opioid medications in the current opioid crisis, according to Kimberly Brandt, principal deputy administrator for operations at CMS. “As Medicare pays for a significant amount of prescription opioids, we strive to ensure appropriate stewardship of these medications that can provide a medical benefit but also carry a risk for our beneficiaries,” wrote Brandt in a blog post.According to Brandt, the safety alerts may cover situations such as:
- Possible unsafe amounts of opioids
- First-time fills for opioid prescriptions
- Use of opioids and benzodiazepines at the same time
These alerts address a range of issues that can occur during prescription opioid use. The first-time fill alert, for example, is based on “medical best practices that show that the risk of developing an opioid use disorder increases after 7 days of use.” Part D beneficiaries may be limited to a seven-day supply in cases of acute pain treatment.Brandt notes that the policies are “deliberately tailored to address distinct populations of Medicare Part D prescription opioid users.” Beneficiaries that are residents of long-term care facilities; receiving hospice, palliative, or end-of-life care; and receiving treatment for active cancer-related pain are not impacted by these new safety alert interventions.
For more information on the new policies, click here.
Sarah Sheber is assistant editor/web editor at Journal of AHIMA.