The Department of Health and Human Services is looking at whether insurance companies make opioids more accessible than other pain treatments. (Photo: Shutterstock)

By favoring opioid medications as the cheaper option when compared with safer but more expensive alternatives, insurers may have helped enlarge the opioid crisis.

That’s according to a report by the New York Times and independent journalism organization ProPublica, which says that the New York State attorney general’s office may be taking a closer look at the role insurers and pharmacy benefit managers might be playing in the crisis. Last week the AG’s office sent letters to the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx, asking how they were addressing the crisis.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Marlene Satter

Marlene Y. Satter has worked in and written about the financial industry for decades.

More from this author

BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2025 (BPRO)Event

The premier educational and networking event for employee benefits brokers and agents.

Get More Information
 

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.