Anesthesia Business Consultants President and CEO Tony Mira examined how recently proposed opioid-targeting legislation will impact anesthesiologists and pain groups in a recent blog post.
Here's what you should know.
1. Legislative committees for both U.S. government branches are introducing legislation targeting the opioid epidemic. Mr. Mira estimates 30 bills have been introduced related to Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment, with some having the potential to impact anesthesia and pain medicine practices.
2. Specifically, The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 has been fiercely debated in the Senate. The bill aims to rally HHS agencies as well as the Department of Education and the Department of Labor to launch a multipronged attack on the opioid crisis.
3. The bill would address several issues. Some of the more notable aspects are:
- Clarify the FDA's authority to require drugmakers to package certain drugs for set treatment durations
- Authorize the FDA to require drugmakers to provide a simplified drug disposal program with the prescription
- Direct the FDA to clarify label requirements for opioid-sparing medications that control pain at a comparable level
- Allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe medication-assisted treatments for up to 275 patients
- Streamline federal requirements for state prescription drug monitoring programs
4. A U.S. House committee held a hearing on a bill that would also address several issues. Among them:
- Reimbursement for postsurgical injections would be restored to its former levels to incentivize use of the injections
- A temporary pass-through payment would be created to encourage the development of non-opioid drugs
- ePrescribing would be required for all opioids
For more information on what the bills would entail, click here.