New York State Health Foundation Report
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100
June 12, 2018
For Immediate Release
Statement from Thomas Madejski, MD, President, Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) re: New York State Health Foundation report, “Follow the Money: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Payments and Opioid Prescribing”
“Any physician that chooses to prescribe any medication for reasons other than patient need faces threat of significant sanction from the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) as well as potentially criminal and civil penalties.
To make an assertion that New York physicians are prescribing opioids because of payments from drug companies is completely at odds with recent statistics showing a significant decrease in opioid prescribing in New York.
New York is leading the fight against the national problem of opioid abuse. As a result of our efforts:
- New York has had one of the lowest opioid prescribing rates in the country. New York State tied for second lowest in the country (behind Hawaii).
- The total number of opioid prescriptions went down 20% since 2013.
- New York has one of the lowest Medicare Part D opioid prescribing rates in the country.
Certainly more needs to be done to address New York’s heroin and opioid abuse epidemic, including increased insurance coverage to respond to those facing addiction, and addressing barriers that limit the ability of physicians and others to prescribe suboxone to address addiction. However, these recent statistics showing a significant drop in opioid prescribing are the result of a multi-pronged and multi-year effort by many to assure greater caution in the prescribing of opioids.”
# # #
About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.
Media Contact:
Roseann Raia
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516.488.6100 x 302
rraia@mssny.org