Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With Congress' Purse Strings Newly Loosened, Pharma Poised To Make A Lot Of Money From Opioid Fight
Stat: Is Drug Industry Friend Or Foe? In Addiction Policy Circles, Depends Who You Ask
Increased attention to the epidemic, however, has created an undeniable business opportunity for many drug companies. A spending bill passed earlier this year added $3 billion in funding for initiatives specific to the opioid crisis. Budget caps allow for many more billions to be spent in 2020 — a significant chunk of which is destined to fund medications used to treat opioid use disorder. The bills Nickel testified about before the Energy and Commerce Committee are likely to authorize much of this spending. (Facher, 4/5)
The Associated Press: Opioid Addiction Costs Employers $2.6B A Year For Care
A new report shows large employers spent $2.6 billion to treat opioid addiction and overdoses in 2016, an eightfold increase since 2004. More than half went to treat employees' children. The analysis released Thursday by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation finds such spending cost companies and workers about $26 per enrollee in 2016. Employers have been limiting insurance coverage of opioids because of concerns about addiction. The report finds spending on opioid prescriptions falling 27 percent from a peak in 2009. (4/5)
The Hill: Study: Cost Of Treating Opioid Addiction Soars
Opioid use on employer-based health plans peaked in 2009 with about 17.3 percent of enrollees receiving at least one prescription that year. It has since fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade — 13.6 percent, the Kaiser report shows. (Roubein, 4/5)
And in other news —
The Associated Press: Puerto Rico Sues Purdue Pharma Over Opioid Crisis
Puerto Rico's Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma accusing the drugmaker of causing an opioid crisis in the U.S. territory. Officials said Wednesday that they are seeking to hold the company responsible for all government costs incurred as a result of the damage opioids have caused. The suit also accuses the company of misrepresenting the risk of abuse and addiction, among other things. (4/4)
Wyoming Public Radio: Northern Arapaho Tribe Sues Opioid Companies
The Northern Arapaho Tribe on the Wind River Reservation has filed a lawsuit against some of the country’s biggest opioid manufacturers and distributors. The tribe says addiction to opioid medications has hit tribal communities harder than any other in the country. (Edwards, 4/4)
