I am 100% supportive of abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription opioids. To me, though, this conversation is a distraction. The problem as we see it is lack of medical necessity. In most cases, it doesn't matter if the patient's opioid is abuse-deterrent or not. If it's medically unnecessary, if it's leading to loss of function, if it's leading to dependence and addiction... it needs to go away. The doctor will be better educated. The patient will get better. The cost of care will go down. Everyone wins. Abuse deterrent technology is great, but if we focus on technology over medical necessity, we will have missed the mark and the crisis will continue.
We saw in 2014 a plethora of drug trend reports noting cost savings associated with generic medications. We'll see more of the same in 2015. Like abuse-deterrent technology, generic medications represent a potential Pyrrhic victory in the battle against misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Yes, we're saving money. No, we're not really solving the problem. Here's a reprise of the language above with GENERIC substituted for ABUSE-DETERRENT.
I am 100% supportive of GENERIC formulations of prescription opioids. To me, though, this conversation is a distraction. The problem as we see it is lack of medical necessity. In most cases, it doesn't matter if the patient's opioid is GENERIC or not. If it's medically unnecessary, if it's leading to loss of function, if it's leading to dependence and addiction... it needs to go away. The doctor will be better educated. The patient will get better. The cost of care will go down. Everyone wins. GENERICS [are] great, but if we focus on GENERICS over medical necessity, we will have missed the mark and the crisis will continue.Don't let a single digit % drop in drug costs fool you. There is a lot of work to be done. Cheap drugs can still be dangerous drugs.
Michael
On Twitter @PRIUM1
No comments:
Post a Comment