Robert Nickelsberg
Overview
Over the past decade, attempts to address the overdose crisis in the U.S. have resulted in more restrictive opioid prescribing policies which, because they have reduced the overall availability of prescription opioids, have inadvertently led to a surge in the use of illicit drugs such as heroin.
Because these illicit opioids are often injected, they’re associated with higher rates of overdose than prescription painkillers, and, when unsterile injection equipment is used or shared, people are at risk of getting a serious infection or transmitting disease.
1 As of March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that 44 states; Washington, D.C.; one tribal nation; and one territory were experiencing or at risk of an acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV outbreak due to injection drug use.
Syringe Distribution Programs Can Improve Public Health During the Opioid Overdose Crisis pewtrusts.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pewtrusts.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Medicaid funding the top priority for Washington Health Care Authority Mansur Shaheen | Jan 6, 2021
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Over 2 million Washingtonians are currently enrolled in Medicaid in the state, and more than 1,300 enroll in the program every week. Washington State Health Care Authority’s Maryanne Lindeblad explained how the state is expanding its services and working with health care providers at the Washington State of Reform Virtual Health Policy conference Wednesday.
The agency has attempted to tackle COVID-19-related challenges in many ways, she said. For example, the state ended all unrequested terminations of Medicaid enrollments, other than those initiated due to a death or an enrollee moving out of the state.