Seeing physical therapist first for back pain may reduce opioid prescriptions
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2019
People who first visit a physical therapist for low back pain are much less likely to be prescribed opioids than those who first visit a primary care doctor.
Medicare might cover acupuncture treatments for lower back pain
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2019
CMS is studying the ancient therapy as part of its move to increase alternatives to opioid painkillers for certain common conditions.
Side effects may outweigh the cure when using painkillers to manage sleep in chronic pain patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 04, 2019
Painkillers are frequently prescribed to manage chronic pain that disrupts sleep. But research on the use of opioid drugs for aiding sleep is limited and existing studies rarely consider side effects.
FDA considering blister-pack requirements for certain opioids
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 31, 2019
The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it is seeking comments on how to adopt packaging requirements that might help providers control the flow of opioid analgesics into healthcare and community...
Opioid misuse sending more older adults to emergency departments
By
Marty Stempniak
Mar 08, 2019
Emergency room visits by seniors who have misused opioids more than tripled between 2006 and 2014, according to a new study.
Nurse who stole opioids from long-term care facility must be rehired and compensated, arbitrator rules
By
Marty Stempniak
Jan 17, 2019
An Ontario nursing home must rehire a registered nurse who was caught stealing opioids on the job, and compensate her for her losses.
Also in the News for Thursday, March 8
Mar 08, 2018
Chicago home health owner sentenced to 18 months in cash-for-patients scheme … Landmark trial shows opioids have no pain-relieving advantage … Many Type 2 diabetics can relax their blood sugar...
Congressional opioid efforts targeting Medicare, limits on new prescriptions
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 01, 2018
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Tuesday that would set a three-day initial prescribing limit on opioids for acute pain and increase recovery services and availability for addicts.
Medicare pays for opioids over alternatives, lawmakers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 16, 2018
Lawmakers took a long-standing industry complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, telling Secretary Alex Azar that Medicare and Medicaid favor opioid prescription over non-addictive...