Medications
Cover Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Three medications for the treatment of OUD have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): methadone, buprenorprhine, and naltrexone. Evidence suggests that treatment plans that include these medications are more effective for reducing early deaths, medical complications, improving day-to-day function, and sustaining long-term recovery than treatment plans without.3 Those seeking treatment for OUD should be offered access to all of these medications as well as any needed behavioral therapies and recovery support services. Healthcare providers can assist members in selecting which treatment option, or combination thereof, is best suited for their needs.
Coverage limitations, cost sharing requirements, and utilization management should all be reviewed as possible barriers to MOUD access. Employers should consider placing MOUD on a lower or lowest cost tier to reduce financial burden. Additionally, receipt of MOUD often requires physician office visits, so elimination or reduction of co-payments for associated visits could be beneficial. Network adequacy can also play a role in health plan member’s ability to receive MOUD, since health care providers must maintain certain credentials to administer some forms of MOUD. Employers should have their plans ensure there is an adequate network of providers who administer MOUD.
Cover Naloxone to Reduce Mortality
Naloxone (also known as Narcan or Evzio) is a drug that can be administered during an overdose that temporarily stops many of its life-threatening effects, such as sedation, loss of consciousness, and suppressed breathing. Anyone who is misusing opioids is at risk of an overdose, and naloxone administration can be the immediate intervention that is the difference between life and death. Greater access to naloxone and education about its use are shown to reduce overdose deaths.
Naloxone is available at most pharmacies without a prescription. The drug is not intended for only personal use. People who fear that their friends, family, or general members of their community are in danger of overdosing are encouraged to carry the drug. Those administering naloxone should call emergency services. Kentucky’s Good Samaritan Law protects people who call for help in an overdose situation from criminal prosecution. Whether utilized personally or for others, the benefit of having naloxone available is unquestionable. Employers should remove cost-sharing requirements in their health plan to improve access to naloxone and be advised that increased spend and utilization of this drug is a positive indicator of reducing likelihood of fatal overdose.
Cover Site-of-Use Disposal
After being prescribed a prescription opioid, many people are left with an excess of unwanted, expired, or unused doses. These doses are often left in the home, available to be accidentally or intentionally misused by anyone who has access to them, a process called diversion. In fact, half of those misusing prescription opioids obtained them from a friend or family member for free.16 Safe disposal of prescription opioids can help reduce the likelihood of this occurring. There are many ways to safely dispose of medications including medicine take-back options and site of-use disposal. Improper disposal can lead to environmental contamination or sustained access to the medication. One way to help people avoid confusion around proper disposal methods is to provide site-of-use disposal technologies. Multiple technologies exist that can be provided by a pharmacist or doctor and taken home to dissolve or neutralize excess prescription opioids. Employers should consider covering these technologies as part of their benefits.
