Our concerns about opioid rules were right
LETTERS LETTERS@USATODAY.COM
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged that its 2016 opioid guidelines were misinterpreted about unintended consequences resulting from rigid, one-size-fits-all policy solutions. And while largely supportive of the CDC’s goal of providing physicians with evidence-based information about risks and benefits of opioid therapy for chronic pain, the American Medical Association voiced concerns in 2016 about state legislators, health plans pharmacy chains and others using the guidelines to create hard-and-fast rules that would have the effect of limiting or denying care to patients. That’s exactly what happened, as explained in USA TODAY’s article “Feds issue new warning to doctors: Don’t skimp too much on opioid pain pills.”
We appreciate the CDC’s efforts to reframe the guidelines. Specifically, we will need CDC and other thought leaders to call on health insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and state and federal policymakers to reevaluate how they are implementing policies based on the CDC guidelines.
We must work together to support and promote individualized patient care that will improve patient outcomes, reduce harm and end the epidemic. Patrice A. Harris, president-elect American Medical Association Chicago
FACEBOOK USA TODAY OPINION
Millions of pain patients are suffering inadequate treatment for their pain. They are left suffering in torturous pain on the verge of suicide. Not prescribing opioids at all is leaving some patients with nowhere to turn. Kathy Spain
I believe it was the government that got its nose in trying to solve medical issues that has the medical community running scared. It’s not the doctors’ fault; it’s the overbearing government putting its nose into the doctor-patient relationship. Richard G. Nichols WANT TO COMMENT? Have Your Say at letters@usatoday.com, @usatodayopinion on Twitter and facbook.com/usatodayopinion. Comments are edited for length and clarity. Content submitted to USA TODAY may appear in print, digital or other forms.