State laws on opioid prescription volumes may help lower opioid use and positively influence providers' prescribing decisions, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
In 2018, Florida implemented a law limiting opioid prescriptions to a three-day supply for patients without chronic pain.
To assess the outcomes of this law, researchers analyzed claims data for 54,409 opioid prescriptions dispensed between January 2015 and March 2019 from one private health plan covering more than 45,000 employees in Florida.
Before the law was enacted, there were 5.5 new opioid users per 1,000 enrollees. This figure fell to 4.6 new opioid users per 1,000 enrollees after the law took effect. The average length of opioid prescriptions also fell from 5.4 days to 4.2 days per prescription over the study period.
Researchers noted the findings may not be generalizable since the study only focuses on patients from one health plan.
To view the full study, click here.