Compared with the New Zealand hospitals where Davis worked earlier in his career—often prescribing physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, biofeedback, or acupuncture as a first-line measure—American insurance companies in the age of managed care were more likely to cover opioid pills, which were not only cheaper but also considered a much quicker fix. Little did Davis or the other ER docs understand that the routine practice of sending patients home with a two-week supply of oxycodone or hydrocodone would culminate by the year 2017 in a financial toll of $1 trillion as measured in lost
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