What We're Reading: CVS Limiting Opioid Prescriptions; ACA Vote Coming; Florida Nursing Home

CVS Will Limit Opioid Prescriptions

In an effort to battle the opioid addiction epidemic in the country, CVS Health will limit the duration and dose of some prescriptions of opioids. According to The Wall Street Journal, prescriptions for opioids will be limited to 7 days or less for certain patients with acute pain. Previously, patients with acute pain received prescriptions for 20 days or more. Patients with chronic pain will be limited by dose to 90 morphine milligram equivalents. Once the new limits are in place, prescriptions that come into the pharmacy above the limits will be kicked back to the doctor for review.

Senate to Vote on ACA Repeal Next Week

While it is unclear if Senate Republicans have the 50 votes needed to pass the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, will bring the bill to the floor for a vote next week, according to Politico. However, in the past, McConnell has said he will not bring the bill up if it doesn’t have the votes. Currently, Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, is the only senator who has come out against the bill. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and John McCain of Arizona, who all voted against the last bill, are still undecided.

Florida Nursing Home License Gets Suspended

The Florida nursing home that was widely covered after Hurricane Irma knocked out its air conditioning and ultimately led to the death of 9 patients has had its license suspended. The AP reported that the facility has a history of trouble. Since the deaths, it had already been banned from admitting new patients and receiving Medicaid payments. CNN reported that the nursing home also had a history of safety violations.