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CVS Health to launch new opioid initiatives

Montgomery Herald - 10/8/2017

CVS Health last month announced new initiatives to fight the national opioid abuse epidemic, including enhanced opioid utilization management, funding for treatment and recovery programs and safe drug disposal.

Starting Feb. 1, 2018, CVS Caremark will limit to seven days the supply of opioids dispensed for certain acute prescriptions for patients who are new to therapy, unless the client chooses to opt out.

The program will also limit the daily dosage of opioids dispensed based on the strength of the opioid, and require the use of immediate-release formulations of opioids before extended-release opioids are dispensed.

"As America's front door to health care with a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we see firsthand the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse," said Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO, CVS Health.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said he is "thankful and appreciative of CVS Health's decision to make these proactive changes to combat the opioid epidemic that is plaguing West Virginia. It is my hope that other stakeholders take notice and engage in similar practices."

While Manchin applauded the efforts of CVS Health, he noted that there is more that has to be done. "All stakeholders ? physicians, pharmacies, community leaders, law enforcement, and countless others ? must come together to find common sense solutions to this problem."

CVS Pharmacy locations will also strengthen education and counseling for patients filling an opioid prescription to highlight the dangers of addiction. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, which advise using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible, will be shared.

Further, pharmacists will counsel patients about the risk of dependence and addiction tied to the duration of opioid use, the importance of keeping medications secure in the home, and methods of proper disposal of unused medication.

In the last two decades, opioid prescribing rates have increased nearly three-fold, from 76 million prescriptions in 1991 to approximately 207 million prescriptions in 2013.

"Everyone has a role to play in addressing the opioid epidemic, and CVS Health is showing how the private sector can help," said Richard Baum, Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Making sure people can safely dispose of unwanted medications is a key part of preventing opioid misuse and abuse, and CVS Health has taken this important step which will support the health of communities across the country."

The CVS Health Foundation has also added a $2 million commitment to its previous investments in mitigating prescription drug abuse with support for federally-qualified community health centers to increase access to medication-assisted treatment and other recovery services.

The CVS Health Foundation and National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) convened a panel of experts to develop a protocol of best practices for community health centers on provider prescribing guidelines, medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health and collaboration with other community organizations to treat and prevent prescription drug abuse among at-risk patients.

The guidelines will serve as a resource for community health centers receiving grants from this partnership to provide treatment for opioid addiction.

For more information, visit cvshealth.com.

- Email: wholdren@register-herald.com and follow on Twitter @WendyHoldren