Pew Offers Recommendations for Implementing Select Provisions of Opioid Law

On Friday, Dec. 2, The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the implementation of provisions in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, signed into law in July.

The comments outline recommendations for Medicare plan sponsors establishing patient review and restriction programs, which are used to identify and intervene when beneficiaries misuse opioid pain relievers.  These programs increase care coordination by ensuring at-risk patients receive controlled substance prescriptions only from designated prescribers and pharmacies.