Opioid prescriptions in Indiana have decreased 35.1 percent over the previous five years, according to the American Medical Association Opioid Task Force 2019 Progress Report. The Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) and the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) commend the work of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana General Assembly for their leadership in encouraging responsible prescriptions of opioids.
“Unfortunately, in Indiana, we’ve seen the opioid epidemic damage individuals, families and entire communities,” said IHA President Brian Tabor. “It’s encouraging to see tangible results of the collective efforts of the state, the Indiana General Assembly and the medical community.”
According to the American Medical Association report, Indiana’s reduction in opioid prescriptions from 2013 to 2018 is 2 percentage points higher than the national average of 33 percent. The co-prescribing of naloxone and the number of physicians certified to provide office-based treatment of opioid use disorder using buprenorphine are also increasing.
“ISMA has long supported responsible prescribing,” said ISMA President Stacie Wenk, DO. “We are pleased to see the results of our recent collective efforts and are committed to continuing this work with all stakeholders moving forward.”
This encouraging data is the result of collaborative efforts between medical associations and legislators enacting effective public policy, along with the education and adoption of best practices by health care practitioners. In 2017, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 226, authored by Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), which requires providers to write prescriptions for no more than a seven-day supply of an opioid when first prescribing to a patient. Sen. Merritt’s legislation aims to prevent long-term opioid reliance and potential addiction by limiting the amount that can be prescribed in acute pain situations.
The report also notes a drastic 651 percent increase nationwide in the number of queries made to state prescription drug monitoring programs by health care professionals since 2014, and a 290 percent increase in the number of health care professionals registered to use these state programs in the same period. In 2018, Gov. Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act 221 into law, funding the integration of the INSPECT prescription drug monitoring program into Indiana health facilities’ electronic medical records systems. This legislation establishes the foundation for requiring health care providers to review information from the database prior to prescribing an opioid to a patient.
Click here to read the full American Medical Association Opioid Task Force 2019 Progress Report.
About Indiana Hospital Association
Indiana Hospital Association is a nonprofit organization that serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 Hoosier hospitals. The mission of IHA is to provide leadership, representation and services in the common best interests of its members as they promote the improvement of community health status. IHA’s primary responsibility is to represent the interests of hospitals in matters of public policy. IHA also provides members with education, communications and data collection services. To learn more about IHA, visit IHAconnect.org.
About ISMA
The Indiana State Medical Association exists to maximize the leadership and impact of physicians. With more than 8,500 members, it is the largest physician organization in Indiana advocating for physicians and their patients. To learn more about ISMA, visit ismanet.org.