Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines on Opioids

[LOGO] # MISSISSIPPI INSURANCE DEPARTMENT MIKE CHANEY Commissioner of Insurance State Fire Marshal J. MARK HAIRE Deputy Commissioner of Insurance 501 N. WEST STREET, SUITE 1001 WOOLFOLK BUILDING JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 www.mid.ms.gov MAILING ADDRESS Post Office Box 79 Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0079 TELEPHONE: (601) 359-3569 FAX: (601) 359-2474 WATS: 1-800-562-2957 (Incoming-USA) ## MISSISSIPPI INSURANCE DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 2017-4 TO: ALL ISSUERS OF HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCTS IN MISSISSIPPI FROM: MIKE CHANEY COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE DATE: May 22, 2017 SUBJECT: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION GUIDELINES ON OPIOIDS Over the past two decades, a marked increase in the use of opioid pain relievers has resulted in an escalation of opioid dependency and overdose deaths, as well as a surge in heroin addiction. Statistics show that in 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids. This is more than enough prescriptions to give every American adult their own bottle of pills. According to the Mississippi Department of Health, Mississippi is a leading prescriber of opioid painkillers with an equivalent of 1.2 opioid prescriptions for every man, woman and child in the state. The Mississippi Department of Insurance strongly encourages all issuers of health insurance products in Mississippi to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. This will require issuers to partner with pain management experts, addiction experts and the issuers' Network Providers and pharmacists to implement the CDC Guidelines. Issuers are also encouraged to promptly submit to the Mississippi Insurance Department any necessary form and rate filing changes associated with this implementation. Please direct any questions to the Life and Health Actuarial Division at 601-359-2012. Issued the 22nd day of May, 2017. MIKE CHANEY COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE