The opioid epidemic in Washington State and around the country continues to worsen. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 91 Americans are dying every day from opioid overdoses (this includes heroin and prescription drugs).
Doctors and insurance providers are scrambling to find other ways to help patients manage pain, or confront problems with drug dependence. Dr. Shawn West, Medical Director for Provider and Customer Engagement at Premera Blue Cross, and Rachel Andrew, Premera's Director of Clinical Programs, shared how they're working to help patients find alternative treatments to manage chronic pain, as well as how they're helping those who are struggling with opioid dependency.
More information:
Premera Blue Cross - main website
Premera Blue Cross - resources for mental health and chemical dependency
Premera Blue Cross - Personal Support Team
Premera Voices: How Premera helps customers with opioid addictions
Note: This story is sponsored by Premera Blue Cross
