November 2018 Newsletter
Prepared by Van Scoyoc Associates
FDA REEVALUATING HOW IT APPROVES NEW OPIOIDS
On November 2, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the agency is reevaluating the way it assesses new opioids after regulators approved a controversial pill that's up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl. Read more here.
MEDICARE FINALIZES HIGHER PAYMENT FOR NON-OPIOID PAINKILLERS
On November 2, CMS finalized new policies to address the opioid crisis, notably by paying ambulatory surgical centers more for non-opioid painkillers and removing pain questions from post-discharge hospital surveys over concerns that they could have unintended consequences. Read more here.
SURGERY PATIENTS NOT USING MOST OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTION
A new University of Michigan study in JAMA found post-operative surgical patients only took one-fourth of the drugs covered by their opioid prescription. Read study here.
FDA PLAN TO CURB YOUTH USE OF E-CIGARETTES
On November 15, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced a plan to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars as well as new strategies to curb the use of e-cigarettes by young people. Read more here.
SENATE REPORT: PRICE OF OVERDOSE ANTIDOTE SURGED DURING OPIOID CRISIS
A new report that aired on November 18 on CBS News’ 60 Minutes highlighted the findings of an investigative report released by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the chairman and ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), into the cost of naloxone. Read more here.
COST OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION OUTWEIGHS TAX REVENUES
On November 19, a new study on the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado conducted by the Centennial Institute found that for every one dollar in tax revenue from marijuana, the state spends $4.50 as a result of the consequences of legalization. Read more here.
DRUG OVERDOSES AND SUICIDES FUEL DROP IN LIFE EXPECTANCY
Three CDC reports released on November 29, showed life expectancy dropping, overall death rates increasing, and mortality from drug addiction and suicide rising among young adults. Read reports here.
BLOOMBERG TO OFFER $50 MILLION TO COMBAT OPIOIDS
Bloomberg Philanthropies will donate $50 million to states fighting the opioid epidemic, an effort to support current programs and encourage new approaches. Read more here.