Strategic Planning Experts in Healthcare

WEA Trust, a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit insurer, does that by protecting patients prescribed opioids for the first time. Its pharmacy utilization management program limits initial opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply. WEA Trust also collaborates with providers to ensure opioid prescriptions are evidence-based and medically appropriate. In just five months, opiate prescriptions dropped 27 percent, with 91,000 fewer pills dispensed.

The first nationwide benchmark study measuring the health care industry’s progress in combating the opioid crisis was released. This important baseline analysis shows the positive steps clinicians and insurance plans have taken together – and identifies specific actions that can be taken to reduce addiction and abuse.

Payers are stretched to the breaking point trying to manage the onslaught of substance use disorder cases. It’s more important than ever to acquire accurate data to help payers and policy makers establish effective and long-lasting opioid crisis measures.