Magnifying Glass
Back to Archives

Small Number of Calif Comp Doctors Prescribe 80 Percent of Narcotics

10 Mar, 2011 WorkersCompensation.com

                               
A small percentage of doctors are responsible for prescribing close to 80% of Schedule II opioids for workers compensation injuries, according to unveiled research from the California Workers Compensation Institute (CWCI).
 
 
BusinessInsurance.com reports that Schedule II opioids include “major narcotics LIKE oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine and methadone, which have limited FDA-approved medical uses and carry a high potential for addiction and abuse,” according to the CWCI. (WCxKit)
 
 
The study reports that 10% of doctors prescribing Schedule II opioids for injured California workers accounted for approximately 80% of all workers comp prescriptions for the drugs and 88% of the associated payments.
 
 
The CWCI reviewed 233,276 prescriptions dispensed to 16,890 California workers from the period of January 2005 to December 2009. It discovered that nearly half of all Schedule II opioid prescriptions went towards minor back injuries.
 
 
Yet the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine claims the use of these drugs is “typically not useful in the sub acute and chronic phases,” according to the. (WCxKit)
 
 
Previous CWCI research discovered the use of the drugs in California workers comp cases had ballooned, with their costs accounting for 3.8% of workers comp prescription drug costs in 2005 but growing to 23.6% four years later.
 
 
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
 
 
 
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
 
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@WorkersCompKit.com.

    • Read Also

    Spencer Webinar Series: Serving the Injured Worker as a Team

    Spencer Webinar | Serving the Injured Worker as a Team (youtube.com)
    Autonomous Vehicles When? Thoughts and Commentary

    One of the biggest challenges that our society will experience in the next generation will be to transition from human driven cars to autonomous vehicles (AV). One only has to listen to the Beach Boys […]
    Employees Killed in Work Accidents Across Multiple States 

    Montgomery, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – A food worker died in a warehouse accident last week, one of several industrial accident that took the lives of workers over the past few weeks.   The worker, an employee at […]

    About The Author

    • WorkersCompensation.com

    More by This Author

    Ametros’ Melissa Coleman Honored by the IAIABC as a 2024 NextGen Winner

    Wilmington, Mass. (June 24, 2024) – The IAIABC has recognized Melissa Coleman as a 2024 NextGen Award Winner. Coleman is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Ametros, which helps people manage their medical funds following workers’ […]
    ReEmployAbility Announces Free Webinar: ‘Overcoming Jurisdictional Return-to-Work Challenges’

    ReEmployAbility, Inc.Contact: Rebecca Dearth(813) 261-3117 | news@reemployability.com Brandon, FL (May 10, 2023)- ReEmployAbility CEO and Founder Debra Livingston will be hosting a second free, live Work Comp Central webinar in their continued series to educate […]
    NCCI Annual Golf Event Tees Up $25,000 for Kids’ Chance of America

    (Orlando, FL–May 10, 2023)—The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has given $25,000 to Kids’ Chance of America, supporting college scholarships for the children of injured workers. NCCI made the donation in conjunction with its Annual […]

    Read More

    Spencer Webinar Series: Serving the Injured Worker as a Team

    Spencer Webinar | Serving the Injured Worker as a Team (youtube.com)
    Autonomous Vehicles When? Thoughts and Commentary

    One of the biggest challenges that our society will experience in the next generation will be to transition from human driven cars to autonomous vehicles (AV). One only has to listen to the Beach Boys […]
    Employees Killed in Work Accidents Across Multiple States 

    Montgomery, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – A food worker died in a warehouse accident last week, one of several industrial accident that took the lives of workers over the past few weeks.   The worker, an employee at […]
    Study Suggests Digital Tools Improve Pain Related Disability In Total Knee Replacement Patients

    Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With an increase in life expectancy, as well a surge in the age of workers over the age of 65, the numbers of patients with Osteoarthritis (OA) is rising as well.  […]
    How Wearable Tech and Virtual Care are Transforming Claims, from Engagement to Outcomes 

    Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) — Last week’s National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference in Las Vegas set the stage for an impactful dialogue about the transformational potential of wearable technology and virtual care in the workers’ […]
    What Do You Think: Was Firing Nurse who Lost Fight with Door WC Retaliation? 

    Belleville, NJ (Workerscompensation.com). An employer’s action during the period after which an employee reports an injury and the date she is fired can go a long way to either showing retaliation or negating it.   A […]

    Request a Demo

    To request a free demo of one of our products, please fill in this form. Our sales team will get back to you shortly.