OxyContin Maker Turned Blind Eye To Reap ‘Obscene Profits,’ City Claims In Suit
Everett, a city north of Seattle, has been hit hard by the painkiller epidemic. In other news, Anthem is changing its policy on pre-authorizations for drugs to treat opioid abuse.
Los Angeles Times:
City Devastated By OxyContin Use Sues Purdue Pharma, Claims Drugmaker Put Profits Over Citizens' Welfare
A Washington city devastated by black-market OxyContin filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the painkiller’s manufacturer Thursday, alleging that the company turned a blind eye to criminal trafficking of its pills to “reap large and obscene profits” and demanding it foot the bill for widespread opioid addiction in the community. (Ryan, 1/19)
USA Today:
Anthem To Change Opioid Treatment Policy Under Deal With NY Regulators
Anthem, the nation's second-largest insurance company, has ended its policy of pre-authorizations for drugs to treat opioid use disorder following an agreement with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, his office said Thursday. The agreement, which affects Anthem plans across the United States and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in New York, followed an investigation into Empire's practices in New York. (O'Donnell and DeMio, 1/19)
The Wall Street Journal:
Anthem Ends Preauthorization For Medication To Treat Opioid Addiction
Anthem Inc. will stop requiring U.S. patients and doctors to obtain prior authorization from the health insurer before receiving coverage of medication to treat opioid addiction, under a settlement with New York state’s attorney general. (Whalen, 1/19)
In other news —
The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Christie Set To Impose Pain Pill Limits Despite N.J. Doctors' Objections
Gov. Christie wants to tackle opioid addiction by limiting the number of pills physicians can initially prescribe - an idea experts say could reduce excess supply but may cause some pain patients to go days without medication. Christie, a Republican serving the last year of his second term, last week ordered new rules that would limit doctors to writing initial prescriptions for five days' worth of opioid-based medications, down from 30. (Seidman, 1/19)
Chicago Tribune:
Despite Progress, Lake County's Fight Against Opioid Epidemic Sees Early Setbacks In 2017
Last year, the sheriff's office was responsible for saving 14 lives using Naloxone, and if the start of 2017 is any indication, the opioid epidemic might be increasing. In 2016, deputies saved two people in January and didn't have another save until March...According to the latest statistics from the Lake County coroner's office, opioid or heroin-related deaths went up from 39 in 2014 to 42 in 2015. Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said that for the first three quarters of 2016, there were 31 opioid- or heroin-related deaths, which was down from the same period in 2015. (Abderholden, 1/19)
Seattle Times:
Safe Heroin Injection Sites Get OK From King County Health Board
King County is moving closer to opening at least two public sites where drug users can inject heroin under supervision. The county’s Board of Health voted unanimously Thursday to endorse the sites, which would be the first of their kind in the nation.A task force, made up of experts on heroin and opioid abuse, recommended the supervised injection sites in September, as a way to reduce the wave of overdose deaths that has wracked Seattle and King County in recent years. (Gutman, 1/19)
