Downers Grove, IL - April 21, 2016 - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued their Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain - United States, 2016, which are intended for primary care providers treating chronic pain that does not involve cancer, palliative, or end-of-life care. The CDC's opioid prescribing guideline is sectioned into 12 recommendations that focus on when to initiate or continue opioids, opioid selection and course of treatment, and risk assessment or addressing harms associated with opioid use.
Some of the highlights include recommendations to initiate opioids at the lowest effective dose with an overall total daily Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED) threshold of 90 throughout therapy, starting with immediate-release opioids vs. extended-release/long-acting opioids, continually evaluating for opioid-related harms, considering naloxone for patients at risk of overdose, and employing Urine Drug Testing (UDT) before starting opioid therapy and at least annually thereafter.
The recommendations promoted by the CDC's guidelines are in alignment with the clinical programs already in place at Coventry, and represent further support of the use of evidence- based opioid prescribing best practices. A strong Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) program can help to mitigate some of the risks associated with opioid use and aids in identifying patients who may require direct clinical intervention and support.
Coventry's current risk modeling tools mine for emerging patient risk around several of the indicators for opioid misuse and abuse such as opioid prescriptions from multiple prescribers or pharmacies, high-risk drug combinations, and high MED or prolonged opioid use. We also apply national guidelines as part of an overall evidence-based approach to any program we develop, including those from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG), and we are considering the most appropriate application of the CDC's recommendations within our clinical programs and risk models.
While the CDC's guidelines do not represent an absolute solution that will resolve the opioid epidemic overnight, they do encompass a giant step in the right direction. Clinical guidelines represent one strategy for improving prescribing practices, protecting patient safety, and promoting optimal health outcomes, and we continue to stay up-to-date with clinical literature and evidence-based recommendations. Coventry remains optimistic that the CDC's guidelines will further our efforts in improving patient and medication safety and returning people to work, to play, and to life.
About Coventry
Coventry offers workers' compensation, auto and disability cost and care management solutions for employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators. With roots in both clinical and network services, Coventry leverages more than 30 years of industry experience, knowledge and data analytics.
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