opioid addiction through programs.
“Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for example, implemented a first-in-the-nation Prescription Pain Medication Safety Program to reduce the risk of addiction to opioid-based painkillers,” he said. “The program emphasizes collaboration among medical professionals, pharmacists and patients to reduce the over-prescribing of painkillers. In three years, it has eliminated an estimated 21.5 million doses of opioid-based medications in the community.”
Additionally, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York “is providing medical professionals and the community with resources, including continuing medical education, a middle school curriculum, and a 24/7 hotline,” Elfinger said. “More than 1 in 3 people have reported being inspired by the campaign to discuss addiction with friends and family or discard expired medications.”
In the U.S., opioid overdose and use are seen as the principal cause of shortened life expectancy, and risk factors such as gender, age, conditions and duration of a prescription are critical determinants of potential opioid use disorder, according to the BCBS report.
Blue Cross Blue Shield efforts have worked to address the growing opioid crisis for years, Elfinger said.
“While a range of solutions has emerged at local, state and federal levels, the effects of opioid abuse continue to have devastating effects on families and communities. We undertook this large study of BCBS data to help practitioners, policymakers and insurers develop and refine solutions with a deeper understanding of the complex factors that lead to addiction.”
