Maine Medicaid rules reduce narcotic prescriptions

By Blake Davis

Published April 10, 2014 5:31pm ET

Add Washington Examiner on Google

Maine Medicaid rules reduce narcotic prescriptions — In this April 1, 2014 photo, Ernie Merritt stands with his back brace at his home in of Saco, Maine. Merritt, who runs a support group for chronic pain patients, supports Medicaid guidelines that promote alternative treatments, including physical therapy, in place of narcotic painkillers. Maine is leading in efforts to stem the flow of powerful opioid painkillers with unique Medicaid guidelines. (AP Photo/Blake Davis) | Blake Davis

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s severe restrictions on opioid painkillers for Medicaid patients, requiring many to instead seek alternative pain management treatment for the past year, have sharply reduced the number of people obtaining highly addictive medications blamed for drug abuse and deaths around the nation.

Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Entitlements FDA Maine Medicare and Medicaid