State, Federal Governments Addressing Opioid Crisis
Last week, President Donald Trump declared the United States’ opioid crisis a public health emergency, and the Pennsylvania legislature is taking steps to address the problem in the state, as well.
Senate Bill 936 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to adopt an evidence-based drug formulary for the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation program following an investigative report that exposed businesses arrangements between lawyers and doctors. The Philadelphia Daily News report, which was cited in a press release by State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway), illustrated in detail how attorneys representing injured workers have purchased pharmacies jointly with physicians who treat their clients.