Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
OxyContin-Maker Purdue Kept Quiet While Los Angeles Drug Ring Thrived
In the waning days of summer in 2008, a convicted felon and his business partner leased office space on a seedy block near MacArthur Park. They set up a waiting room, hired an elderly physician and gave the place a name that sounded like an ordinary clinic: Lake Medical. The doctor began prescribing the opioid painkiller OxyContin – in extraordinary quantities. In a single week in September, she issued orders for 1,500 pills, more than entire pharmacies sold in a month. In October, it was 11,000 pills. By December, she had prescribed more than 73,000, with a street value of nearly $6 million. (Ryan, Glover and Girion, 7/10)
For years, Jevon “Goldie” Lawson dealt crack on the steps of a 7-Eleven in a rough part of this blue-collar town. He smoked the rocks he didn’t sell and often appeared as strung out as his customers. But in 2008, he moved into a $400,000 house, started driving a champagne-colored Humvee, and made himself the star act of his own hip-hop label. He abandoned the crack business. Found something better, he told associates. (Ryan, Glover and Girion, 7/10)
In other news, it's likely Congress will pass its opioid package despite funding disputes and doctors continue to try to balance patients' pain treatments with opioid regulations —
Congress this week is expected to send President Obama legislation to combat heroin and painkiller abuse, despite lingering disputes over whether there is enough funding to support new treatment and prevention programs. Senate Democrats have pushed for additional funding arguing that without it the bill will not be able to deliver on its promise to help thwart the opioid epidemic. But they do not plan to block the agreement that House and Senate negotiators finalized last week, according to a spokesman for Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). It’s unclear how many Democrats will support the bill, but it is expected to easily be approved just in time for the height of the election season. (Demirjian, 7/11)
The House overwhelmingly approved a compromise package bolstering federal steps against illicit drugs on Friday, as lawmakers of both parties flocked to cast an election-year vote to stem the nation's surge of deaths among drug abusers. The legislation was approved 407-5, underscoring the broad support it has attracted to combat a problem that claims victims across racial, economic and geographic lines. (Fram, 7/8)
Republicans dared House Democrats to block an opioids bill over a lack of funding, and the Democrats blinked. Now the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act — legislation that’s a political priority for lawmakers in both parties and key to the reelection bids of vulnerable Senate Republicans — heads to the Senate next week with a full head of steam after a 407-5 landslide vote to approve it in the House on Friday. (Norman, 7/8)
If you have chronic pain, you might be hearing about more treatment options from your doctor soon. Greater Cincinnati primary care doctors have a chance to learn more ways to manage chronic pain, thanks to a no-fuss, no-cost UC Health program. Nearly a dozen UC Health specialists are on hand monthly for a virtual mentoring program that gives doctors tips about treating pain –often without prescribing opioids. At first, the program was offered to the health organization's primary care physicians, but now, it's open to any physician groups in the region. (DeMio, 7/9)
Doctors have long complained about patients demanding inappropriate treatment, especially addictive opioid painkillers. Many say they feel forced to comply for fear they will be rated poorly by patients on the internet or even more official surveys. (Sapatkin, 7/11)
