Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
St. Louis Establishes Drug Monitoring Program
St. Louis Post Dispatch: St. Louis To Begin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Mayor Francis Slay signed a bill on Tuesday that would allow authorities to track the distribution of prescription drugs. The bill, spearheaded by Alderman Lyda Krewson, is tied to a similar program now in force in St. Louis County. (Pistor, 5/31)
The Associated Press: Feds: Woman Repeatedly Dislocated Shoulder To Get Pain Pills
A woman accused of purposely and repeatedly dislocated her shoulder so she could get painkillers pleaded guilty Tuesday to fraud charges. Kari Richards, of Latrobe, pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to health care fraud and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7 following completion of a presentencing report. Federal prosecutors alleged last June that Richards defrauded Highmark Inc.'s Community Blue health insurance plan by traveling to more than 100 hospitals in 11 states to obtain prescriptions for shoulder dislocations she was causing herself. Authorities said that during a 16-month period, Richards sought treatment at hospitals more than 300 times. (5/31)
Kaiser Health News: How And Where To Dump Your Leftover Drugs — Responsibly
Opioids like Vicodin and Percocet are commonly prescribed to dull pain after medical procedures and to treat chronic pain. They also commonly languish in medicine cabinets, sometimes for years, making easy pickings for someone with an addiction. The consequences can be deadly: More than 165,000 people died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids between 1999 and 2014, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... What are consumers to do the rest of the year if they want a safe alternative to flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet or tossing them into the garbage? Drugs that are flushed can taint our rivers, lakes and water supplies. Drugs in the trash also may harm the environment, and can be found by children, pets — and even adults looking for a high. (Bazar, 6/1)
