Pew Comments on Proposed Regulations for Medicare Part D Drug Management Programs

In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule intended to protect Medicare beneficiaries who are at risk from opioid misuse. The rule sets expectations for insurers developing drug management programs known as patient review and restriction (PRR) programs, which are used to identify at-risk patients and assign them to designated prescribers and/or pharmacies for their controlled substance needs. While welcome, this rule as proposed fails to adequately protect these patients, and must be improved.