Massachusetts physicians and dentists are worried the state's newest coalition — a group that includes the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and HHS — will be a serious burden for practitioners who help patients with chronic pain management, according to the Boston Herald.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Wednesday the coalition, the Interagency Group on Illegal Prescribing, which will investigate and prosecute prescribers, pharmacists and others who illegally prescribe or dispense opioids.
"The opioid and heroin epidemic is too large and too urgent a problem to allow silos and red tape to impede our efforts to combat it," Attorney General Healey said in a statement. "We will never truly address this crisis unless we reverse the culture of overprescribing of opioids that has taken hold over the past decade. I want to thank our partners who are joining together to combat the problem of illegal prescribing, and look forward to working with all of them collaboratively moving forward."
Physicians interviewed by the Boston Herald voiced concerns the new regulations will be too tough on pain management physicians or could lead to an uptick in heroin use as prescription pills become more expensive, according to the report.
"I recognize and understand that the vast majority of prescribers across this state are doing the right thing, are taking care of their patients, are serving those in need," said AG Healey, according to the Boston Herald. "There are also a number of folks who are in need of access to pain medication. This working group is not about them. This working group is about the fact that we do have actors out there in our state who are illegally, unlawfully prescribing prescription pain medication and that is causing great harm."
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