WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration says the government’s employee health plan will tighten its rules for covering prescription opioid painkillers starting this fall.
The announcement was made Monday at a White House drug policy briefing by a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity under the media coverage rules established for the event.
The Federal Employee Health Benefits Program is the world’s largest job-based health plan. It covers an estimated 9 million people, including workers, retirees and family members.
Opioids prescribed following a surgery unwittingly became a gateway for some people addicted in the nation’s opioid epidemic.
The official said under the new policy, the initial prescription will be for a 7-day supply, instead of up to 30 days.
Patients can get up to three refills of 7 days apiece.
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