Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Debate Flares Over Governor's Drug Monitoring Program In Missouri
Key Missouri lawmakers say a prescription drug monitoring program that Republican Gov. Eric Greitens created through an executive order doesn't go far enough and that legislation is still needed. (7/19)
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s board of directors has approved a rule that discourages surgery and opioid use in favor more conservative therapy for lower-back injuries. That includes physical therapy, chiropractic care and rest, anti-inflammatories, ice and other nonsurgical treatments. (Williams, 7/19)
The FBI last week seized patient records of Dr. Steven Simon, an Overland Park pain physician with ties to Insys Therapeutics, an opiate manufacturer at the center of a federal case that alleges prescriber kickbacks and insurance fraud... The owner of the pain clinic, Dr. Srinivas Nalamachu, said FBI agents showed up there with a search warrant for the medical records of every patient whom Simon had prescribed oral forms of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. (Marso, 7/19)
