DETROIT – Amid a national opioid epidemic, CVS is announcing a change to how they handle prescriptions.
CVS announced Thursday that CVS Caremark, their pharmacy manager, would begin limiting opioid supplies and daily dosages - even kicking back prescriptions from your doctor, in some cases.
Here's more info from their press release:
CVS Caremark, our pharmacy benefits manager, is enhancing our utilization management program to ensure that opioids are being prescribed and used appropriately, consistent with the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes:
- Limiting to seven days the supply of opioids dispensed for certain acute prescriptions.
- Limiting the daily dosage of opioids dispensed based on the strength of the opioid.
- Requiring the use of immediate-release formulations of opioids before extended-release opioids are dispensed.
Since the early 1990s, U.S. opioid prescribing rates have more than tripled, from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million by 2013. At the same time, the number of deaths from opioid overdoses has risen rapidly, quadrupling from 1999 to 2015.
Prescription and non-prescription opioid misuse is now considered among the most urgent health crises in our country. The opioid epidemic touches all of the communities we serve, and as a pharmacy innovation company, we are in a unique position to make a difference. So in addition to our legacy opioid-abuse prevention programs, we are adding a new suite of tools to face this crisis head on.
Our pharmacists are always available for private patient consultations, but we’re strengthening counseling for patients receiving an opioid prescription for the first time with a robust safe opioid use education program. Pharmacists will discuss the risks of dependence and addiction tied to opioid use and answer any of the patient’s questions.
The CVS Health Foundation is adding a $2 million commitment to previous investments in mitigating prescription drug abuse with support for federally qualified community health centers that are delivering medication-assisted treatment and other addiction recovery and prevention services.
"Without a doubt, addressing our nation's opioid crisis calls for a multipronged effort involving many health care stakeholders, from doctors, dentists and pharmaceutical companies to pharmacies and government officials," said Larry Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Health. "With this expansion of our industry-leading initiatives, we are further strengthening our commitment to help providers and patients balance the need for these powerful medications with the risk of abuse and misuse."