Why Organizations Use Verisys’ FACIS With Monitoring to Protect Their Patients Against the Opioid Crisis

No one is a stranger to the opioid epidemic sweeping the country. With the latest breaking news stories this week about the opioid bust in the Appalachian region, it is no surprise that organizations are seeking transparency within their provider and entity populations to protect their patients and reduce risk. “If you use the proper data sets and compliance partner, the data is a leading indicator to identify bad providers, allowing organizations to be proactive before it escalates into a larger issue,” Valerie Mondelli, Verisys CRO states. “Verisys’ FACIS database is the most comprehensive data set used for screening and monitoring health care providers to ensure compliance and to protect against financial and reputational risk.”

According to the CDC, approximately 130 Americans die every day of an opioid overdose due to the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics by medical professionals.  State and government groups are not ignoring the issue. Health and Human Services have excluded over 2,000 individuals from participating in federal health care programs (like Medicare and Medicaid) since June 2018.  The DEA has received 1,386 surrenders since July 2017 because of the Controlled Substances Act.

“The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history, and Appalachia has suffered the consequences more than perhaps any other region,” Attorney General William P. Barr said.  “But the Department of Justice is doing its part to help end this crisis.  One of the Department’s most promising new initiatives is the Criminal Division’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force, which began its work in December.  Just four months later, this team of federal agents and 14 prosecutors has charged 60 defendants for alleged crimes related to millions of prescription opioids.  I am grateful to the Criminal Division, their U.S. Attorney partners, and to the members of the strike force for this outstanding work that holds the promise of saving many lives in Appalachian communities.”

According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force was able to charge 53 medical professionals out of the 60 individuals identified.  The effort of this task force resulted in charges with over 350,000 prescriptions for controlled substances and over 32 million pills.  FBI Executive Assistant Director Hess stated, “We will not stand by and allow the harmful and oftentimes deadly practice of over-prescribing highly addictive drugs to continue unchecked. The FBI will pursue medical personnel who misuse their positions of trust to blatantly disregard others’ very lives for their own financial gain.”  In other words, they aim to close the bridge that individuals have used to receive controlled substances through those medical professionals.

With the opioid epidemic taking a toll on the country, it is important for organizations to ensure transparency when hiring providers or contracting with entities to provide safe practices for patients.  “Because Verisys uses primary source verification + monitoring, we are able to find what other compliance partners cannot,” says Lauren Howard, Verisys Vice President.  “We check exclusion lists and thousands of primary sources to supply the most accurate data to ensure organizations thrive in the health care industry.”

Organizations using Verisys’ FACIS database for health care screening, verification, and monitoring, ensures they will achieve their goal of protecting patient populations while eliminating risk to their organization.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appalachian-regional-prescription-opioid-arpo-strike-force-takedown-results-charges-against

Written by Heather Lynn Gillman Director of Healthcare Communications Problem Solver. Designer. Wine Maker. Writer. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn