Battling the opioid epidemic: A roundup of news and information

CMS develops Medicare Part D opioid mapping tool
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has developed a Medicare Part D opioid prescribing mapping tool. This interactive tool shows geographic comparisons at the state, county and ZIP code levels of de-identified Medicare Part D opioid prescriptions filled within the U.S. For more information, click here.

Study explores geographic variation in opioid prescribing
How have key opioid prescription measures changed by state between 2006 and 2017 in the U.S.? A new study, published in JAMA, examines this question. To read more, click here.

Bloomberg gives Michigan $10 million to fight opioid crisis
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Michigan in March to announce a $10 million contribution to the state’s efforts to fight the opioid crisis, the Detroit Free Press reported. The money will come from Bloomberg Philanthropies, which will partner with up to 10 states over the next three years and invest $50 million to support state programs to develop treatment and prevention programs. To read more, click here.

In a related item in The Detroit News, Bloomberg and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wrote an opinion piece on what state governments have been doing and Michigan’s fight to combat the opioid crisis.

New law makes it easier to refuse opioids
Michigan has enacted a law that allows people to refuse opioid medications by placing a non-opioid advance directive in their medical file, the Detroit Free Press reported March 28. For details, click here.

Michigan schools stocking first aid kits with Narcan^®
A number of Detroit-area schools are stocking their facilities with Narcan, the overdose-reversing drug, and training school staff to use it, the Detroit Free Press reported March 14. To read more, click here.