Opioid abuse and overdose deaths in the U.S.are at epidemic levels, in part due to an increased level of fraudwithin the Medicare Part D program, according to a report released by the inspector general of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.
A total of 69,563 Medicare beneficiaries received extremeamounts of opioids, and 22,308 beneficiaries appeared to be doctorshopping -- receiving high amounts of opioids by having multipleprescribers and pharmacies. In 2016 one beneficiary receivedopioids from 46 different prescribers and 20 different pharmacies.In one month alone, this beneficiary received 11 different opioid prescriptions from eight prescribers infive different states, and filled these prescriptions at sixdifferent pharmacies.
Moreover, 678 beneficiaries received even more extreme amountsof opioids. In one case, a beneficiary from New Hampshire received134 prescriptions for opioids from one prescriber in 2016.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
