As the opioid crisis continues to claim lives and harm families and communities across the country, Aetna is seeing progress on stemming the tide of heroin and prescription painkiller misuse and abuse.
“It’s clear that Aetna is on the right path in working to help our members fight opioid misuse and abuse,” said Daniel Knecht, M.D., vice president of clinical strategy and policy. “We are constantly looking for additional ways in which we can positively impact this terrible epidemic and improve the health and lives of our members and, subsequently, their families and communities.”
Aetna is aiming to reduce inappropriate opioid prescribing to members by 50 percent by 2022. The company is also aiming to increase the percentage of members with chronic pain treated by non-opioid treatment alternatives and those using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder both by 50 percent by 2022.