Florida Blue, part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, will drop coverage of OxyContin, a brand name prescription opioid, Jan. 1, 2018, according to the Miami Herald.
The insurer will instead cover Xtampza ER — an alternative opioid made from oxycodone that isn't crushable for injection or snorting — to reduce the potential of abuse.
"Most physicians, most plans have had a hands-off approach for a number of years, and we see where we are now," Scott McClelland, vice president of commercial and specialty pharmacy at Florida Blue, told the Miami Herald. "We think it's time for more people, including physicians in our community, the nurses, even the families to take a more proactive approach in trying to manage this [opioid] epidemic."
Under the new policy, the insurer will stop covering OxyCotin for all group and individual health insurance beneficiaries, except for Medicare Advantage members.
Even with the coverage change, Florida Blue will still stick to the policy it implemented in 2015, which requires authorization for all oxycodone prescriptions of more than seven days.