CVS to limit opioid prescriptions to 7 days
The program will also limit the daily dosage based on their strength; restriction will apply to patients who are new to pain pills
By EMS1 Staff
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS is doing its part to tackle the opioid crisis by limiting opioid prescriptions to seven days for certain patients.
CNN reported that the new program will also limit the dosage of pain pills depending on their strength and will require patients to take immediate-release formulations before trying extended-release pills.
The restrictions will only apply to patients who have not gone through pain therapy before. The changes will begin in February 2018.
"With a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we see firsthand the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse," CVS Health president and CEO Larry Merlo said.
CVS also plans to counsel patients about the risk of addiction and emphasize the importance of securing medications at home, as well as properly disposing of them.
To help patients who would like to dispose of their drugs properly, CVS will increase their number of drug disposal kiosks from 800 to 1,550.
Happy to host @TODAYshow and @tomcostellonbc in Bethesda to talk about @CVSHealth decision on opioid prescriptions. pic.twitter.com/Bx0xJU07lM
— Scott Geschke (@SGeschkeCVS) September 22, 2017
.@CVSHealth launches enterprise-wide effort to help address national #opioidepidemic https://t.co/1HiFMpgQjY pic.twitter.com/hrA8b0i46E
— CVS Health (@CVSHealth) September 21, 2017
