opioids News

Duration, Number of Refills Spell Highest Risk for Opioid Misuse After Surgery

With opioid overdoses now a leading cause of nonintentional death in the United States, data show most of these deaths can be traced back to an initial prescription opioid. A new study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical …

International Opioid ‘Pill Mill’ Busted

Two people in Italy and five U.S. residents have been charged in a fraud and drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute opioids in Florida and Tennessee, leading to hundreds of deaths, federal prosecutors said Friday. The indictments were unsealed by federal …

NCCI: Healthcare Costs, Uncertainty Top 2018 Challenges for Workers’ Comp

For the fourth year in a row, carrier executives identified the U.S healthcare environment as their top concern for 2018, according to a just released National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) survey od carrier executives. The annual Carrier Executive Pulse …

Claims Journal’s Top 10 Contributed Articles in 2017

Insurance industry experts offered unique analysis and perspective throughout the year on a range of article topics, including machine learning, easing return to work and contents claims handling. The top contributed Claims Journal articles this year tackle subjects, like improving …

How Federal Pain Management Rules Will Affect Workers’ Comp

Genex recently released a brief overview of the Joint Commission’s new pain management protocols. According to Mark Pew, senior vice president of PRIUM, a division of Genex Services, the new pain management protocol goes into effect January 1. “That means …

Opioid Crisis Cost the Nation $504B in 2015

President Donald Trump said Monday that the opioid epidemic is “ravaging so many American families and communities.” It also appears to be more expensive than previously thought, according to a government analysis released Monday. The White House Council of Economic …

CompPharma: Workers’ Comp Drug Spend Continues to Decline

A new survey shows an 11 percent reduction in worker’s compensation payers’ year-over-year drug spend. The decline is associated with a 13.3 percent reduction in opioid cost, according to CompPharma’s 14th Annual Survey of Prescription Drug Management. Total workers’ compensation …

Insurer Says It Shouldn’t Have to Pay for Medical Marijuana in Maine Case

The Maine supreme court on Wednesday began considering whether a paper millworker left suicidal by narcotic painkillers should receive workers’ compensation for medical marijuana. It’s the first time the court has considered the question of insurance reimbursement for medical marijuana. …

Many Opioid Addicts Hoping for Recovery Relapse, Turn to Insurance Fraud

The Reflections treatment center looked like just the place for Michelle Holley’s youngest daughter to kick heroin. Instead, as with dozens of other Florida substance abuse treatment facilities, the owner was more interested in defrauding insurance companies by keeping addicts …

Express Scripts Will Limit Drug for First Time Opioid Users

The nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager will soon limit the number and strength of opioid drugs prescribed to first-time users as part of a wide-ranging effort to curb an epidemic affecting millions of Americans. But the new program from Express …