• Indiana: Elevance Health named Steve Collis, a long-time drug distributor executive, to its board of directors, effective August 1. Currently, Collis is the executive chair of Cencora's board and was previously CEO from 2011 to 2024 when he retired. "Steve brings a distinguished record of leadership, transformation, and operational excellence," said Ramey Peru, Elevance's board chair. "His deep experience in healthcare operations and long-term value creation align well with our strategic objectives." According to Healthcare Dive, Collis' expertise in pharmaceutical-based healthcare could be helpful to Elevance as it works to grow its health services division Carelon, which includes the pharmacy benefits manager CarelonRx. Although Elevance has faced challenges in its legacy insurance business, revenue for CarelonRx was up more than 20% in the second quarter, and its operating profit increased almost 8%. (Pifer, Healthcare Dive, 7/30)
• Maryland: Last week, FDA and DEA officials announced plans to classify 7-OH, a compound with opioid-like effects derived from the kratom plant, as a Schedule I controlled substance and restrict its use. 7-OH, which is sometimes called "legal morphine," is found in unregulated tablets, gummies, and drink mixes sold online and in smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores. Although 7-OH is naturally found in the kratom plant, products labeled with "7-OH" use a synthetic, concentrated version of the chemical. According to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, research suggests that 7-OH may be 13 times as potent as morphine. FDA has also warned that 7-OH could damage the heart and liver and potentially cause seizures, digestive issues, shallow breathing, withdrawal symptoms, or even death. "We've seen a disturbing rise in reports of overdoses, poisonings and emergency room visits linked to products containing 7-OH," said HHS deputy secretary Jim O'Neill. Previously, DEA in 2016 said it planned to classify the active ingredients in kratom, including 7-OH, as Schedule 1 substances, but the effort was dropped after pushback from kratom advocates. (Reed, Axios, 7/29; Bendix, NBC News, 7/29)
• Maryland: According to a recent report from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the number of active drug shortages in the United States is now declining after reaching a record high in 2024. In the first quarter of 2024, ASHP reported 323 active drug shortages, the highest number since the organization first started tracking supply data. However, the United States is now on pace to have fewer than 100 drug shortages in 2025, the lowest total since 2006. However, even though drug shortages are declining, hospitals and health systems are still facing challenges from long-standing supply shortages, as well as growing labor costs. Many critical medications, like injectables and controlled substances, also continue to be in shortage. Currently, ASHP is monitoring potential policy changes that could impact pharmaceuticals, including tariffs. (Murphy, Becker's Hospital Review, 7/23)

This research report outlines three imperatives to guide hospitals and health systems in their efforts to reduce the impact of inappropriate opioid prescribing and misuse, including case studies of organizations that successfully implemented these strategies.