Cutting-Edge Hospital Legal and Regulatory Issues Related to the Opioid Crisis

Now, more than ever, hospitals are joining the front lines to help solve the opioid epidemic. Since 2000, the United States has seen a 200% surge in opioid-related deaths. In 2016 alone, more than 63,000 people died from drug-related overdoses. More than 42,000 of these were attributed to the use of opioids, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. In response, state and federal legislatures have taken the initiative to curb opiate prescribing practices and redesign hospital treatment and discharge processes, disrupting traditional modes of operation for hospitals and providers alike. This article provides an overview of some of the recent regulatory compliance issues faced by hospitals in light of the opioid crisis, as well as a few of the current and foreseeable legal and regulatory changes related to treatment of opioid use disorders.