When it comes to access to buprenorphine and doses greater than 24 mgs to combat synthetics like fentanyl, statistics show that Black men like those in DC and other urban settings have borne the brunt of this regulatory implementation error!ECC Edwin C. Chapman, MDPrivate PracticeWashington, DC
To Whom it may concern,It has now been 8 1/2 years since the 1st Washington Post story (Svrluga 1/13/2015) describing how prior authorizations, dosing caps, and limited access to buprenorphine was hurting opioid use treatment in Washington DC. The 2 attached articles on buprenorphine UNDER-DOSING and LACK of DIVERSION of this medication makes one wonder […]
GM DC Council Health Chair Henderson, We thank you for holding hearings on “prior authorizations” in showing how both local and national insurers systematically undermine the health of the public under the guise of “safety, fraud, and abuse.” Your gentile, yet probing, questioning of local and national insurance representatives exposed how a small, invisible, closed […]
Hi David,You did a fabulous job in covering so many of the nuances and ongoing aspects of local and national insurance company contributions to this access to treatment fiasco! Edwin C Chapman, MD
FYI,This is why we had to simultaneously create the “Howard University Urban Health Initiative” and “Leadership Council for Healthy Communities” over 10 years ago. The evolving opioid epidemic disparities are just a symptom of our broken public health system. Edwin C Chapman, MDFounding Member, Black Coalition Against Covid
Good morning President Frederick and Provost Wutoh,Adaku Ofoegbu called on May 5, 2023 to notify me that she successfully defended her thesis and will be awarded the degree of Pharm.D at tomorrow’s Howard University 155th Commencement Convocation. Please see the 2 attached publications on which she provided major research input and graphic illustration design. It […]
FYI,A new study released today in the NEJM shows how Black patients on Medicare Advantage are dying at a faster rate from opioid/fentanyl overdoses due to patient/provider stigma and a number of well known structural issues likely related to racism, lack of insurance, homelessness, gentrification, and geographical access barriers. Not mentioned as a major problem […]
FYI, Xylazine mixed with fentanyl has now been reported in 48 out of 50 states. Just maybe this report will be the final straw in initiating (1) FREE OUD treatment for anyone in need (2) removing prior authorizations for ALL MOUD treatment modalities as well as removal of dosing caps for buprenorphine and (3) FREE […]
Good afternoon Ambrose, Anxiety and depression (including SDoH = 26% or 113/448 of our OUD deaths are homeless and disproportionately > 55 years old) are major contributors to poor outcomes however I am referring this complex question to the DC Department of Behavioral Health and our expert academic and community psychiatrists for further guidance …ECC […]
To Whom It May Concern:Please use the attached link below if you are interested in joining the TEAMS MEETING on 4/26/23 at 2:30 pm with DCMP Deputy Chief Morgan Kane. We hope your input will help us collaboratively find a non-punitive solution in helping these family members and neighbors receive the mental health, substance use […]