Missouri health organizations endorse opioid prescribing recommendations

Six organizations representing Missouri health care providers are urging their members to adopt a core set of actions to reduce variation in opioid prescribing practices. The 10 recommended strategies can be adopted as a stand-alone policy or in addition to existing strategies. “Missouri doesn’t have a comprehensive policy to address opioid misuse and abuse,” said Christopher Howard, president of hospital operations at SSM Health in St. Louis, and chair of the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. “There are limited options available to identify inappropriate use of these necessary but powerful painkillers. As leaders in health care delivery, we’ve joined together to identify and deliver best practices for use by caregivers on the frontlines of the health care delivery system.” In addition to MHA, the endorsing organizations are the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Missouri College of Emergency Physicians, Missouri Dental Association and Missouri State Medical Association.