Medicare is planning to cut back dramatically on coverage of long-term, high-dose opioid painkillers in order to lower the risk of addiction … but many experts say the new rule could in fact make the problem worse by causing large numbers of patients to turn to dangerous street drugs instead.

As the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration demands a sharp cutback in opioid production, many hospitals are reporting a “potentially life-threatening” shortage of standard painkillers, sometimes leading to postponement of surgeries as well as impromptu substitutions and a much greater likelihood of medical errors.  

The Missouri Senate has approved a plan to have the state’s Medicaid program pay for chiropractic treatment, in part as a way to keep people from taking opioid painkillers and becoming addicted.