Opioid use down 40% for clients of Medicaid

CareSource expects 18-month number to drop to 50%.

The largest Medicaid plan in Ohio reported its members are using 40 percent fewer opioids in the last 18 months.

Dayton-based CareSource said in a news release that by the end of this year, the insurer expects to see that amount cut by 50 percent. CareSource privately manages 1.8 million medical policies.

The decline in CareSource members being prescribed opioids comes at a time when regulations on opioid prescribing are tightening in the wake of opioid overdose epidemic, which is tied to the overuse of the prescription painkillers.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy reported the number of opioid doses dispensed in the state in 2017 was down 30 percent from 2012 — meaning about 225 million fewer doses were dispensed to Ohio patients in 2017 compared to 2012.

Nationally, Medicaid members are more than twice as likely to receive opioid prescriptions as non-Medicaid members and are at a higher risk of opioid-related death.

CareSource said it started a program in 2016 to notify providers who are prescribing high amounts of opioids to members.

“We know that helping members get on a path to recovery and self-sufficiency leads to better outcomes,” said Jonas Thom, vice president of behavioral health at CareSource.

Using claims data, CareSource can identify members at risk for substance use disorder, diversion, overdose and alert providers.

CareSource said it analyzed the number of pills, dosing schedules and strength of what was being prescribed to its policyholders. It also sends letters to prescribers showing how their prescribing compares to their peers.

The insurer also highlighted other efforts such as transportation to recovery services, decreased long-term opioid prescriptions and case management to address other barriers, which inlcude child care and employment.

“We have certainly had a meaningful impact on our members’ lives and the opioid crisis through our targeted programs, but there is more to be done,” Thom said.

‘We know that helping members get on a path to recovery and self-sufficiency leads to better outcomes.’

Jonas Thom Vice president of behavioral health at CareSource

LISA POWELL / STAFF The CareSource building fronts the Great Miami River in Dayton. CareSource manages 1.8 million Medicaid policies, the largest such plan in the state.