INTRODUCTION
As the opioid epidemic has spread throughout the country, health insurance providers have provided leadership in helping to address our nation鈥檚 opioid crisis. These efforts have included prevention, early intervention, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and support as outlined in the STOP Playbook.
Health plans provide tools and information to their members and network providers to avoid use of high-dose and long-term opioids for pain, and to taper people off of high-risk opioid prescriptions when clinically appropriate. For their members who suffer from SUD, insurance providers connect them with treatment options including medications and behavioral health services to support long-term recovery.