Politics & Government
West Virginia Opioid Crisis: AGs Urge Insurers To Review Pain Pill Policies
West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. at 41.5 per 100,000 residents — more than twice the national average.
HUNTINGTON, WV — West Virginia's attorney general is among 35 calling on health insurers to review their pain management treatment policies to encourage alternatives to opioid prescriptions amid a nationwide opioid crisis.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced the bipartisan coalition's efforts on Monday in the fight against opioid addiction.
The coalition wants health insurers to avoid contributing unintentionally to the deadly problem, Morrisey said in a release. West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States at 41.5 per 100,000 residents — more than twice the national average.(For more information on the opioid epidemic and other West Virginia stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)
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Other co-sponsors of the effort are attorneys general from Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah and Virginia.
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