Study: Medicare favors opioids not designed to avoid abuse

A new study found that Medicare is cutting back on coverage for a specially designated type of painkiller that deters abuse in favor of cheaper generics that don’t have the same deterrent qualities (Source: “Medicare Drug Plans Favor Generic Opioids Over Those Designed To Avoid Abuse, Study Finds,” Kaiser Health News, June 12, 2015).

Overall, Medicare coverage for long-acting prescription opioids declined from an average 46 percent of plans in 2012 to 36 percent of plans in 2015, the study by Avalere Health found.

But coverage of OxyContin, a brand-name drug that has received “abuse-deterrent labeling” from the Food and Drug Administration, fell off more sharply than other long-acting opioids that didn’t receive the deterrent labeling during that time period.