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Review of Opioid Use in Indian Health Service

Opioid abuse and overdose deaths are at crisis levels in the United States, with approximately 49,000 Americans dying from opioids in 2017, an increase from more than 42,000 in 2016. Consistent with previous OIG work in Medicare Part D and Medicaid, we will determine the extent to which beneficiaries are receiving extreme amounts of opioids through Indian Health Service (IHS), as well as IHS-employed prescribers and IHS-run pharmacies that have questionable prescribing or dispensing patterns. This review will also determine how IHS prevents and detects opioid misuse or abuse, as well as how it enforces its opioid-related policies.

Announced or Revised Agency Title Component Report Number(s) Expected Issue Date (FY)
September 2018 Indian Health Service Review of Opioid Use in Indian Health Service Office of Evaluation and Inspections OEI-05-18-00470 2021