A few days ago, officials at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts announced that they are going to restrict doctors’ ability to write new prescriptions for painkillers (opioids) to 30 days’ worth of pills before a mandatory review by the insurer. Taking effect on July 1, this strict rule is meant to discourage painkiller abuse.

BCBS Massachusetts, the largest health insurance carrier in the state, claims that around ten percent of its members (30,000 people) have received painkiller prescriptions lasting over 30 days. There is no doubt that America’s dependence on prescription narcotics is getting out of hand, and the insurer is taking action. The rule applies only to painkillers prescribed for relatively minor injuries, such as a pulled muscle. Patients with chronic or terminal illnesses will still be able to receive as many prescriptions as their doctors see fit.

What are prescription opiods?
You might be most familiar with brand name opioids – drugs like Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin. They are all natural or synthetic versions of opium that relieve pain by reducing the number of pain signals delivered to the brain by your nervous system. While they are quite effective, they can be highly addictive if not taken correctly.

Facts About Painkiller Abuse

• The number of infants born addicted to painkillers in 2009 increased to 13,000. Some liken the epidemic to the “crack babies” problem that first caught public attention in the early 90s.
• In 2010, U.S. pharmacies produced enough product to give every person in the country 40 5mg Percocets and 24 5mg Vicodins.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14,800 people died of a prescription painkiller overdose in 2008.
• The two most popular prescription painkillers are oxycodone (the key ingredient in OxyContin, Percocet and Percodan) and hydrocodone (the key ingredient in Vicodin).

Only time will tell if this major Massachusetts health insurer’s policy change will have an effect on prescription painkiller abuse in the state. We would not be surprised if other states and carriers began to follow suit.