Attorneys general from 37 states have asked the health insurance industry's main trade group to have its members review their coverage policies following a report that many insurers don't cover less addictive pain medications.

A Sept. 17 report by the New York Times and investigative media organization ProPublica found that many insurers don't cover pain medications with a lower risk of addiction and dependence because they are more expensive. Abuse of prescription painkillers led to current opioid epidemic.

In a letter issued the next day, the National Association of Attorneys General asked America's Health Insurance Plans to take "proactive steps to encourage your members to review their payment and coverage policies and revise them."

The state attorneys general group also asked AHIP members to encourage healthcare providers to prioritize non-opioid pain management options over opioid prescriptions for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain.

"Insurance companies can play an important role in reducing opioid prescriptions and making it easier for patients to access other forms of pain management treatment," stated the letter, which was signed by 37 attorneys general. http://bit.ly/2w7pTmx

In a statement to ProPublica, an AHIP spokeswoman said her group's members shared the state officials' commitment to ending the opioid crisis. The group also posted what it said was the first of a series of articles on its website about what health insurers are doing to combat opioid addiction.

"Increasingly, many health plans are refining their approaches and driving the innovations needed to protect patients and curtail the misuse of prescription opioids," AHIP said. http://bit.ly/2xwLvfs

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