Behavioral Insights to Encourage Judicious Prescribing of Opioids

"The letters will be factual and nonjudgmental, signed by the County Medical Examiner, and would state that a patient they had treated with controlled substances died of an opioid poisoning. The letter will encourage judicious prescribing, and will provide information developed by an advisory group: how to identify and taper unsafe regimens (high dose, polypharmacy, or use of multiple prescribers); how to identify addiction and compassionately refer patients for medication-assisted treatment; and recommendations to avoid bad outcomes (e.g. do not fire your patient for signs of addiction.) The letter would also encourage use of the CURES system before prescribing, as well as co-prescribing of naloxone."