Pew Calls for Drug Management Programs in Medicare
On Oct. 15, Cynthia Reilly, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ prescription drug abuse project, submitted written testimony to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care regarding policy proposals intended to help curb prescription opioid abuse.
The testimony calls on Congress to pass legislation granting Medicare the authority to use patient review and restriction programs as a way to prevent patient drug abuse. These management programs, which assign at-risk patients to designated prescribers and pharmacies, can help limit inappropriate access to controlled substances and better coordinate patient care.
