BCBS of Michigan’s Opioid Prescribing Limits Show Promising Results

After Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan implemented a five-day opioid prescribing limit in 2018, members who underwent general surgeries were prescribed and filled fewer prescriptions and had similar patient-reported outcomes compared with enrollees who had procedures before the program was initiated, according to a study published in JAMA Health Forum on Oct. 13.

James Grant, M.D., BCBS of Michigan’s chief medical officer, tells AIS Health, a division of MMIT, that the results show payers can steer people away from potentially addictive opioids without having a negative impact on their pain management.

© 2024 MMIT
Tim Casey

Tim Casey

Tim has been a reporter and editor for newspapers, websites and magazines for more than 20 years, including 10 years covering health care business topics. He has a deep knowledge of the managed care industry and pharmacy benefit management. He also has experience covering medical conferences and clinical and legislative health care issues. In 2014, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing selected Tim as one of 15 journalists to participate in a national symposium on the Affordable Care Act. Tim has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

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