Brown wants to limit circle of prescribers in Ohio
Chillicothe Gazette – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown introduced a bill Wednesday that he says would “significantly cut back on the abuse of Oxycontin and oxycodone.”
The Stop Trafficking of Pills Act is centered around a Medicaid lock-in program. Under the Ohio Democrat’s template, “high-risk” beneficiaries would be required to see one doctor and one pharmacy, or some limited circle, for controlled substances such as Vicodin or Percocet.
Brown said states would develop specifics of the plan, including what qualifies as “high risk.”
A Medicaid lock-in is not a new idea, but one with evidence of success, Brown contends.
During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Brown said South Carolina’s Medicaid lock-in pilot program reduced the statewide use of prescription pain medication by 43 percent.
