Legislation Restricts Opioids, Orders Study of Physician Dispensing

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey last week signed into law a bill restricting the prescription of opioids to injured workers, the most recent move in the state’s effort to control opioid abuse, which safety advocates laud as one of the most effective plans in the country. Senate Bill 1111 also directed the Industrial Commission to study physician dispensing of all drugs and to consider new recommendations on reimbursement rates, a provision opposed by physicians groups and cheered by insurance lobbyists. Now banned in many states, physician dispensing has been associated with higher costs to in...