TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida Blue, a leading health insurer in Florida, announced Wednesday it will no longer cover OxyContin in its commercial lines of business starting Jan. 1, 2018.
As a replacement, Xtampza ER will be covered as the preferred long-acting oxycodone product, according to a news release. Xtampza ER is a new oxycodone formula developed specifically to help prevent abuse of the drug.
It is approved by the Federal Drug Administration to manage severe pain that requires long-term opioid treatment.
Florida Blue said it is taking this step as one part of its efforts to fight the opioid epidemic in Florida.
Following the Center for Disease Control declaring a national opioid epidemic earlier this year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order proclaiming the opioid epidemic in Florida a statewide emergency.
Toxicology results determined that opioids were present at the time of death in 4,515 Floridians last year, according to the 2016 interim report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
"After careful review of the scientific data supporting the abuse-deterrent features of Xtampza ER, we decided to replace OxyContin on the formulary and believe this will be an important step to addressing the opioid epidemic among the people we serve in the state," said Scott McClelland, Pharm.D., vice president of commercial and specialty pharmacy at Florida Blue.
The policy change related to OxyContin is intended to support appropriate use of opioid usage for members suffering from chronic pain. The objective is to protect both members and their families from the risk of opioid abuse and misuse, while providing continued access to opioid medications when appropriate.
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