[Pharmwaste] Because of Over Prescribing, Largest Health Insurer in Massachusetts Has Cut Narcotic Prescriptions

[Ed Gottlieb]

Great news: 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is limiting the amount of pain killers that can be prescribed, under certain conditions, to limit the amount of these medications that go unused.  Although these new rules may cause some patients to have to have follow-up visits to get a second prescription, in my opinion, the positive effects of reducing unused medications will be tremendous.
 
"Since the changes were implemented in July 2012, prescriptions for opioids including Percocet have declined by 20 percent, and those for long-lasting drugs such as OxyContin have declined by 50 percent"
 
http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/community-related/largest-health-insurer-in-massachusetts-has-cut-narcotic-prescriptions?utm_source=Join%20Together%20Weekly&utm_campaign=e2fe24e444-JTWNHndhldDvcThtDlvrsOpdOdTrtmntApprvdFDA41014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0a25dfa1a1-e2fe24e444-221449341
 

Ed Gottlieb
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal 
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator 
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
525 3rd Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-8381
fax: (607) 273-8433
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