State Medicaid Programs to Report on Prescription Opioid Use

State Medicaid programs are set to conduct new screenings on opioid prescriptions beginning in October.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid released guidance on Aug. 5 to implement state-level audits as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a 2018 law to reduce opioid fraud and abuse. CMS’ audits include increased monitoring on prescription opioid claims and reviews for antipsychotic medication for children.

States will be required to implement electronic audits known as safety edits—which track a patient’s opioid use—empowering prescribers and pharmacists to review if that level of use is appropriate.

“This is another step CMS is ...