No one should have to suffer with opioid addiction. In a comment letter sent yesterday to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AHIP outlined strategies that can assist in the development of future research and clinical guidance as part of the fight against the opioid crisis. The letter was in response to a call for comments on a public workshop entitled, “Morphine Milligram Equivalents: Current Applications and Knowledge Gaps, Research Opportunities, and Future Directions.”
In the comment letter, AHIP notes that opioid addiction may begin with a prescription by a clinician intended to help patients manage pain. As part of the solution, AHIP points to the need for evidence-based, patient-centered care, stating, “There is no simple formula or one-size-fits-all approach to differentiate safe or unsafe opioid prescriptions.”
AHIP also calls for more research efforts from stakeholders like the FDA and the National Institutes of Health on areas including:
- Comparative effectiveness studies of prescription opioids including dosages
- Formulations for different types of pain (e.g., acute versus chronic pain)
- Evaluating non-opioid and non-pharmacological treatment modalities to manage various types of pain
The letter closes with AHIP’s health insurance provider members’ continued commitment to assist the FDA in its efforts to promote appropriate access to pain care and prevent opioid addiction.