CMS ‘Roadmap’ Outlines Opioid Strategy; SAMHSA Updates Resource

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released a “roadmap” outlining its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The three-pronged approach focuses on preventing new cases of opioid use disorder, treating patients who are dependent on or addicted to opioids, and using data to target prevention and treatment activities. In related news, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has updated its Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit, which offers information and resources to help first responders, prescribers, patients/families and community members prevent opioid overdose. AHA also offers a toolkit to help hospitals and health systems work with their patients, clinicians and communities to tackle the opioid epidemic.