Governors sign compact to fight opioid addiction

Forty-six governors have agreed to take additional actions to fight opioid addiction, the National Governors Association announced yesterday. According to the compact, possible actions include partnering with health care providers to develop or update evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines; requiring opioid prescribers to receive training on pain management and addiction and use prescription drug monitoring programs; integrating state PDMP data into electronic health records; and reducing Medicaid and other health plan barriers to a range of treatment options. According to NGA, the compact is the first by the association in 10 years to spur coordinated action on an urgent national issue. At its summer meeting tomorrow, NGA will host a session on opioid abuse with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Academy of Medicine.