Molinalogo

04/10/2018

Molina Healthcare of Michigan is pleased to sponsor the Greater Detroit Area Health Council’s 3rd Annual Opioid Abuse and Heroin Overdose Solutions Summit in a continuous effort to address the nationwide crisis. The event will include insightful discussion of new policies, programs and institutions with local health professionals, pharmacists, social workers, law enforcement personnel and more.

As a managed care organization that serves Medicaid members, the opioid epidemic is a priority issue for Molina because our members are impacted at a disproportionately high rate. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), “Medicaid beneficiaries are prescribed painkillers at twice the rate of non-Medicaid patients and are at three-to-six times the risk of prescription painkiller overdose.”

In response to this increasingly prevalent public health crisis, Molina has developed a Pain Safety Initiative (PSI), a proactive, multi-pronged approach to prevent and manage opioid misuse and related conditions. This Initiative focuses on improving quality of care and services for our members through improved services and education; developing an appropriate network of facilities and providers; closely monitoring and coordinating use of prescription drugs; and ensuring adequate and necessary medical benefits.

Part of Molina’s PSI strategy includes encouraging providers to utilize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Molina has been offering and supporting provider education in such areas as: opioid and naloxone prescribing; pain management; and the development of taper plans for patients on high opioid doses or combinations.

Molina is committed to collaborating with providers and all stakeholders to align vision, strategy and resources to make a significant and lasting improvement on this epidemic. Solutions require a collective and coordinated engagement from health plans, providers and communities alike.