The State of Florida will no longer pay for Medicaid recipients' OxyContin prescriptions that exceed 120 pills per month. In addition, Florida will only pay for one dosage level per patient per month. Both of these new policies may be waived with prior approval from Medicaid.
Florida is reacting to heightened concerns over the abuse of the powerful Purdue Pharma painkiller. Over 150 Floridians died from OxyContin during the second half of 2000. The State reports that it reimbursed OxyContin recipients for 6.1 million pills in 2000, up from 1.5 million pills in 1998.
OxyContin has become popular on the black market and many legitimate users have become addicted to its euphoric high. Critics blame Purdue for the addiction epidemic, charging the company with marketing the drug to those with little need for such a powerful medication.