Last year, in one of our articles, we turned our attention to the opioid epidemic and the impact it’s having in the workplace. We’re taking a fresh look at the problem and what Workers’ Comp boards are doing across the country to help tackle the issue.
According to a survey conducted by CompPharma, an industry group that seeks to control Workers’ Compensation spending, more than $1.5 billion was spent on opioids by Workers’ Compensation insurers in 2015, with prescriptions for injured workers accounting for 13% of total opioid pharmacy costs in the U.S. that year. Survey respondents cited opioids and addiction as their most pressing concern. (According to the Department of Labor, about 2.8 million private industry workers and 752,000 public sector employees suffered non-fatal workplace injuries in 2015, more than half resulting in time away from work.)
In addition, a separate study of 337,000 workers compensation claims in 25 states published last year by the independent Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that 55% to 85% of injured workers who missed seven days or more of work received at least one opioid prescription.
States Taking Action in Fight Against Opioid Addiction in the Workplace
Rates of longer-term opioid use varied widely among states, the WCRI study found, including one in six injured workers in Louisiana, and one in 10 in California, New York, and Pennsylvania, but only one in 30 in New Jersey and Missouri.
As a result of widespread use of opioids among workers, a number of states are taking steps through their Workers’ Compensation systems to stem the overprescribing of the powerful painkillers to employees injured on the job, while helping those who became hooked to avoid potentially deadly consequences. In a recent article published by the Associated Press, Omar Hernandez, an administrative judge who resolves Workers’ Compensation disputes for the Massachusetts Division of Industrial Accidents, along with other judges who became alarmed by overdoses and deaths among people in the state’s workers compensation system, is spearheading a voluntary program for people who had settled claims but were still being treated with opioids. The program offers an expedited hearing process to resolve medication disputes with insurers and assigns care coordinators to help guide workers toward alternative treatments for pain.
In New York Workers’ Compensation Board in October announced it would allow insurers to request hearings to determine whether a claimant should be weaned off opioids. Additionally, as we cited in our article last year under the new rules by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, reimbursement for opioid prescriptions can be denied if it’s believed physicians are overprescribing or otherwise failing to follow “best medical practices” in treating injured workers. The rules also allow the Ohio Bureau to provide treatment for opioid dependence to workers who became addicted to painkillers after getting hurt. These and other steps are taken in Ohio to combat opioid abuse have resulted in 44% fewer injured workers receiving opioids in the past five years, saving $46 million in drug costs.
About Caitlin Morgan
Caitlin Morgan provides a broad range of Workers’ Compensation insurance solutions along with strong risk management and return-to-work programs designed to minimize losses and get workers back on the job as soon possible. For more information about our programs, give us a call at 877.226.1027.