CDC Issues Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

This week, our In Focus section comes from HMA Principal Mary Hsieh, PharmD, MPH, of our Atlanta, Georgia office. On March 15, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines to limit opioid pain medication prescriptions as a result of increased opioid prescribing across the nation. The voluntary recommendations provide guidance to primary care clinicians who prescribe opioids for chronic pain. Opioid prescriptions per capita in the U.S. increased 7.3 percent from 2007 to 2012, with the opioid prescribing rate increasing more for family practice, general practice, and internal medicine compared to other specialties.

Every Wednesday, HMA publishes the Weekly Roundup, an information-packed resource that will keep you updated on industry news, trends in state health policy throughout the nation, and more.