Becker's Hospital Review

79 FINANCE CMO / CARE DELIVERY Highmark Declares 'War on Opioids': 3 Things to Know By Brian Zimmerman P ittsburgh-based Highmark Health Plan will limit opioid prescriptions to seven days for members not already taking the medications. Additionally, these members will be allotted a maximum of 14 days of opioids per month, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The changes will take effect March 8. The new restrictions on prescription pain- killers are part of the insurer's "war on opi- oids" declared Feb. 15 by Highmark Presi- dent Deborah Rice-Johnson. "We have to do something about it," Ms. Rice-Johnson said of the opioid epidemic on Feb. 15, according to the Post-Gazette. "We have declared war on opioids." Here are three things to know. 1. The new restrictions on opioid prescrip- tions will not apply to chronic pain patients already taking the drugs, as such action could result in these patients turning to illicit drug use. However, these Highmark members may be weaned off the drugs and some new acute pain patients may never be prescribed opioids, according to the report. 2. The insurer will also require prior au- thorization for long-acting opioids and en- courage the use of alternative pain manage- ment treatments, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture. 3. Highmark also expanded its partnership with axialHealthcare, a health technology company focused on optimizing pain treat- ment. In 2016, Highmark tapped the com- pany to use analytics and electronic tools to help physicians in West Virginia reduce opi- oid overprescribing, which resulted in a more than 28 percent reduction in the number of patients receiving opioids from multiple phy- sicians, according to a Feb. 15 press release. On Feb. 1, Highmark expanded this effort to include providers in Pennsylvania. n Baltimore Hospital Accused of Patient Dumping After Security Guards Leave Woman at Bus Stop By Ayla Ellison B altimore-based University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus is investigating after a video posted online shows hospital security guards leaving an apparently incapacitated woman at a bus stop wearing only a hospital gown and socks, according to The Washington Post. The widely shared video, posted to Facebook by Imamu Baraka, shows hospital security guards leaving the pa- tient, who appeared to be unable to speak, at a bus stop. Her personal belongings were in plastic bags on the street. Mr. Baraka, who said he was a psychotherapist and a student at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, noted it was 30 degrees when security left the woman outside. A hospital spokeswoman verified the authenticity of the video and said it was filmed Jan. 9. "We share the shock and disappointment of many who have viewed the video showing the discharge of a pa- tient from the emergency department of UMMC Midtown the night of January 9," Lisa Clough, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said in a statement to The Washington Post. "We are taking this matter very seriously, conducting a thorough review, and are evaluating the appropriate re- sponse, including the possibility of personnel action." n AllianceHealth Midwest CEO Addresses Deplorable Conditions in Viral Photos By Alia Paavola C lay Franklin, CEO at Midwest City, Okla.-based Alli- anceHealth Midwest took responsibility Jan. 23 for the filthy conditions depicted in photos that surfaced in January, reported KFOR. The photos, taken and posted online by a former hospi- tal security guard, revealed alleged-moldy substances in rooms, a dirty kitchen and filthy bathrooms. The photos prompted an investigation by Oklahoma health officials, who found seven health violations in the food-prep area alone. During a Midwest City Council meeting, Mr. Franklin ex- plained more about the photos that went viral. He noted the patient rooms in the pictures have been closed off, in some cases, for 10 years. Further, the CEO claimed the kitchen had recently finished two large holiday catering events when the pictures were snapped. As for the alleged-mold concerns, Mr. Franklin said the black spots are old adhesive and a full air survey was con- ducted as a precaution. "It should look better, definitely, than what it does," Mr. Franklin told KFOR, noting that other concerns regarding mold and air quality are "baseless." Midwest City Council members applauded the transparen- cy of Mr. Franklin and his staff regarding the situation. n

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