From primary care visits to behavioral health, social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has driven rapid adoption of telemedicine across healthcare. Companies providing telehealth and digital support services have been inundated with requests to get their products up and running quickly, and where these capabilities already exist, utilization is increasing. Much of this adoption is …
Across healthcare, organizations are adjusting to the new normal presented by COVID-19. In this discussion, our panelists offer diverse perspectives and firsthand insight into the pandemic’s profound impact on addiction treatment and recovery. See below for more details and access to the recorded conversation. Panelists: Michael P. Frost M.D., FACP, FASAM Dr. Michael Frost is …
Watch: Substance Use Treatment and Recovery during COVID-19 Read More »
Words are powerful. Help reduce negative stereotypes about addiction by changing your language. Although there’s been a concerted effort to bring awareness to the importance of person-first language, stigmatizing language related to substance use disorders is still widely used in our communities, perpetuating negative perceptions of those suffering from addiction. In a recent post on …
Words Matter. Especially When it Comes to Addiction. Read More »
The increasing number of opioid overdose deaths over the last decade has resulted in a public health response centered around thoughtful opioid prescribing practices and careful consideration of risk versus benefit when initiating opioids for pain treatment. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines around prescribing opioids for chronic pain, …
Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed reforms that would revise the regulations governing patient records of substance use disorder and treatment that are subject to extra privacy laws. The current federal law, known as 42 CFR Part 2 (Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulation), predates the Health Insurance …
Proposed Changes to 42 CFR Part 2: What You Need to Know Read More »
A recent McKinsey and Co. study suggests the nationwide prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) could be upwards of four to six million people, significantly higher than government estimates. And despite progress toward increasing addiction treatment access, only 25% of those with OUD receive any kind of treatment and only half of those are still …
For health plans and providers, managing patients on opioids requires a delicate balance between the patient’s pain management needs and the risk of opioid misuse. We asked our clinical experts to highlight their biggest challenges to improving care for patients on opioids, and their answers reflect the changing pain management and addiction landscape. 1. Lack …
By Holly Little, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, and Bethany Bedford, PharmD, BCACP, CPE, Principal, Clinical Advisor New Markets and Programs Constructed for the busy clinician, the PAINWeekEnd Regional Conference Series is a precursor to the renowned PAINWeek conference and brings certified medical education to healthcare professionals in all disciplines with an interest in pain management. …
Roughly 40% of patients in need of knee, hip or shoulder joint replacement are prescribed opioids prior to surgery. However, preoperative opioid use is associated with worse patient outcomes, higher health plan costs, higher opioid use during the surgical hospital stay, and a lower likelihood of discontinuing opioids after surgery. In our most recent study …
Higher Opioid Dose = Higher Surgical Spend & Worse Patient Outcomes Read More »
By Stacey E. Grant, PharmD, VP of Clinical Operations In February, I had the opportunity to spend time with state lawmakers and advocate on behalf of the healthcare community for patients with chronic pain and patients in need of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment during the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) Pharmacy Day on the Hill …
axial Takeaway: Tennessee Pharmacists Association Pharmacy Day on the Hill Read More »
