Tennova Healthcare, headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., will no longer prescribe opiates to patients who require long-term pain management, according to WBIR.com.
In a letter, Tennova stipulated that patients will have a 30-day grace period to transition to non-opioid pain therapies. The company suggests various alternatives, such as acupuncture, physical therapy or referral to neurology and spine specialists, according to the report.
The decision was influenced by health officials' finding that Tennessee has the second highest rate of prescriptions per individual in the U.S. This week, Tennessee lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Bill Haslam's (R) desk that proposes tighter guidelines for pain clinics and mandating a "certificate of need" to operate them, according to the report.
While supporters applaud Tennova's decision, other public health advocates are concerned some patients' insurance won't cover other treatment options for pain.
"Insurance will pay for opiates, so you can get your prescriptions filled," said Karen Pershing, executive director of the Metro Drug Coalition. "But if you wanted an acupuncture session for instance, that's not covered under our healthcare delivery system."