Battling the opioid epidemic: A roundup of recent news and information

We’re expanding our CLIMB opioid treatment model to Blue Cross fully insured commercial PPO members
As reported in the January – February issue of Hospital and Physician Update, the CLIMB opioid treatment model that was piloted last year for Blue Care Network and BCN Advantage^SM members is being rolled out to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan fully insured commercial PPO members this year. Providers can now refer these members to the program for addiction treatment at two facilities: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services near Grand Rapids and Henry Ford Maplegrove Center in Bloomfield Hills.

For more details, see the column by Dr. William Beecroft that ran in the January – February issue of Hospital and Physician Update.

Blue Cross and community partners taking another step to address growing opioid epidemic
Blue Cross Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is contributing to the Michigan Opioid Partnership, which will distribute a combined $2.6 million in grants to focus efforts on beginning medication assisted treatment in hospitals and emergency rooms, and improving transitions to outpatient care. Providing medication assisted treatment during hospital stays and emergency room visits has been shown to reduce the number of opioid-related deaths in the communities where it’s used.

This partnership is a component of Blue Cross’ intense multipronged strategy to combat the opioid epidemic. Other initiatives include a broad awareness campaign, an online toolkit for employers and a cap on the number of pills that can be prescribed to first-time users.

For more information on the steps Blue Cross has taken to address the opioid epidemic over the past year, see the column from Dr. Duane DiFranco that ran in the January – February issue of Hospital and Physician Update.

Fentanyl edges out heroin as deadliest drug in U.S.
As reported in USA Today** on Dec. 12, 2018, fentanyl is now the deadliest drug in America, federal health officials announced. This is the first time the synthetic opioid has been the nation’s deadliest drug. There were more than 18,000 overdose deaths in 2016, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.