Posts related to ‘Drug abuse or misuse’

Rising physical therapy costs – Balancing the budget as price tags surge BY ROBIN BUSHVice President, Medical Networks, Sedgwick Employers and risk managers watching physical therapy spend rising may assume that the rising cost is because of increasi…

For example, in Kentucky, Tennessee and New York, prescribers are legally required to check PDMP data when initially prescribing opioids. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of opioid prescriptions in each state of 8.5%, 7% and 9.5%, respec…

Sedgwick SVP Medicare Compliance, Michael Merlino is featured in an article that focuses on how Medicare set-asides with money earmarked for opioids is drawing national attention. Mr. Merlino explains Medicare set-asides and the green light for futu…

Sedgwick SVP Medical Quality, Dr. Teresa Bartlett shares highlights from her presentation at the IRMI Construction Risk Conference in an article entitled, “Building better prescription drug practices.” In the article, she talks about the size and sc…

Sedgwick routinely reminds clients and colleagues about the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. The next Take Back Day will be this Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In 2010, the DEA st…

Fostering awareness in the complex world of prescription drugs It is vital for a claims administrator to have pharmacists on staff because the current reality in workers’ compensation injury care is that prescription drug activity is a dangerous and…

Methadone is an opioid medication most commonly used for detoxification, maintenance treatment of opioid addiction, and limited use for chronic pain. The drawbacks to its use stem from the risk of addiction and abuse with the medication, even at reco…

A portrait of opioid use disorder Read part one of Rachel's story here. Rachel was once a vibrant gardener, grandmother and worker. Regrettably, following an injury, she became one of a growing number of those suffering from opioid use disorder (…

ERISA changes being introduced BY BRYON BASSSVP, Disability and Absence Management, Sedgwick Several changes in the regulations governing claims and appeals under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) became effective in January…

Rachel enjoyed gardening and canning vegetables. She enjoyed cooking, taking walks and spending time with her grandchildren. After she was injured at work, she was optimistic about making a speedy recovery. She was 53 years old and had always stayed …

Sedgwick AVP, Clinical Pharmacy, Dr. Paul Peak notes the risk for addiction increases with longer first fills and comments on a trend for the drug management firms to help enforce the laws. Some physicians are still not listening to what is being re…

Most workers’ compensation claims do not start out as complex. They become complex over time due to specific drivers that increase costs and duration. Being able to recognize and resolve these drivers at the right time will help reduce a claim’s like…

The 2017 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The day was established in 2010 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to help reduce prescription drug risks and promote safety. Accord…

State governments are responding to the opioid epidemic. Recently, the New Jersey governor signed new legislation that limits prescribers’ capacity to provide first-time opioid prescriptions for more than five days. The New Jersey state senate passed…

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is 80 times more potent than fentanyl and 8,000 times more potent than heroin. Having been created and used as an elephant tranquilizer in China, it has now found its way into the hands of the public. This dru…