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Go BackOpioid Safety Monitoring
and Information
If you take a prescription opioid pain medication, you may have heard of opioid policies put into place by Medicare over the past couple of years. These Medicare policies encourage your pharmacy, doctor, you, and Zing Health to work together as a team to ensure safe use of opioids and other frequently abused drugs.
These policies include safety reviews that occur when you fill your opioid prescription at the pharmacy and drug management programs to make sure you need these medications and are using them safely and effectively.
Prescribers:
CMS Prescribers Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Opioid Policies:
Click here: CMS Prescribers Guide to Part D Opioid Policies
Members:
CMS Member Newsletter on Opioid Safety:
Click here: CMS Member Opioid Safety Newsletter
Zing and your local pharmacist may do a safety review when you fill a prescription if you
- Take potentially unsafe opioid amounts as determined by the Zing or the pharmacist.
- Take opioids plus benzodiazepines like alprazolam, diazepam, or clonazepam.
- Are new to using opioid.
- You may be limited to an initial 7-day supply or less to ensure you can tolerate the medication.
Our program helps members who are at risk or may be at risk for prescription drug overuse and abuse.
- If you get opioids from multiple doctors or pharmacies, or if you have a history of opioid-related overdose, Zing may talk with your doctor(s) to make sure you need these drugs and that you’re using them safely.
- If Zing decides your use of prescription opioids and benzodiazepines may not be safe, the plan may limit your coverage of these drugs under its drug management program.
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- For example, Zing may require you to get these drugs only from certain doctors or pharmacies to better coordinate your health care.
- Zing will send you a letter before it places you in its drug management program
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- You’ll be able to tell the plan from which doctors or pharmacies you prefer to get your prescription opioids and benzodiazepines, and about any other information you think is important for the plan to know.
- After you’ve had the opportunity to respond, if your plan decides to limit your coverage for these drugs, it will send you another letter confirming its decision. You and your doctor can appeal if you disagree with your plan’s decision or think the plan made a mistake