CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has a plan for prescribing opioid medications for chronic pain as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to curb overdose deaths, according a Tuesday announcement made by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.
The plan, developed by the state Department of Health and Human Resources, the state Public Employees Insurance Agency and other medical providers, adheres to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
The CDC recommends that opioids should not be considered a first-choice treatment. The plan suggests patients should be educated about all treatment decisions.
“I am pleased that our two health agencies are working together to promote safe and effective chronic pain management. These new guidelines will give physicians and patients the facts they need to make more informed decisions about treatment,” Tomblin said in a news release.
DHHR Cabinet Secretary Karen L. Bowling said, “The state intends to implement these guidelines to reduce the opportunity for opioid overuse and abuse while preserving access to necessary drugs for those patients who truly need them.”