Rx intelligence Archives - 911�Թ�

New Findings on Long-Term Opioid Use

Jason Beans — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:55:00 +0000

WCRI recently completed a great study on long-term opioid use. You can read a .
I found the following points from the study of most interest:

• More frequent and longer-term use of narcotics may lead to addiction and increased disability or work loss. Nearly one in 12 injured workers who started narcotics were still using them three to six months later.

• A small, but significant percent of long-term users did not have surgery and did not use opioids in the first three months post date of injury.

• Drug testing was used less frequently than recommended by medical treatment guidelines. Among claims with longer-term use of narcotics, 24 percent received drug testing (24 state median). We know based on our own findings that just because they test, does not mean they do anything with the data.

• Use of psychological evaluation and treatment services continued to be low. Only four to seven percent of the injured workers with longer-term narcotic use received these services in the median state.

911�Թ�’s Rx Intelligence can help avoid problems stemming from long-term opioid use by intervening early before real problems arise.

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Obesity: Healthcare Costs on the Rise

Jason Beans — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:15:00 +0000

Obesity is growing in the US. This has huge implications for our society and the workers’ compensation industry. Some studies show that medical costs for a workers’ comp injury are eight times greater for an obese person than a person of healthy weight.

and analysis of the workers’ compensation market shows obesity trumping aging as a top influencer on workers’ comp claims. Yet all of these factors are interrelated. For instance, diabetes (Type II) drives higher severity, which is caused by obesity. Aging drives more joint pain and slower recovery, especially when combined with obesity. Opioid usage and addiction are very tightly correlated with obesity and smoking.

The answer? We must identify these risk factors early on in a claim and help manage the case properly to derive healthy outcomes. When managing claims, we track and look at top influencers through our analytics and predictive modeling products and our medical management programs. It’s one of the best ways we can take control of healthcare costs.

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Drugged and Dangerous

Jason Beans — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:45:00 +0000

911�Թ� has focused a lot on the health issues caused by an increase in opioid prescriptions and over medication. shows how destructive prescription drugs can be, not just to the user, but to society in general.

Drugged driving is way up in Michigan (and I’m sure other states). While drunk driving has gone down 25 percent in MI, drugged driving is up 22 percent, and is considered the most under-reported crime.

This is a critical issue and 911�Թ� will continue to focus on helping to solve it. Our pharmacy review products are effective and crucial to controlling this destructive and potentially deadly issue.

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A Must Read, “Fighting the Rx Epidemic: A Prescription for Workers’ Comp”

Jason Beans — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:59:00 +0000

I’ve done a number of blogs on how the prescription drug epidemic, particularly opioids, has taken a toll on America. It’s an issue that’s so damaging that I wanted more in depth research so that 911�Թ� could craft an effective solution. In this newly published white paper, “Fighting the Rx Epidemic: A Prescription for Workers’ Comp,” experts from academia, government and industry weigh in on the state of our epidemic and how we can turn it around, together.

911�Թ� has developed Rx Intelligence to combat prescription misuse and abuse and curb costs by intervening early on in a patient’s recovery. This newly published white paper talks more about the multi-pronged approach experts believe will solve our public health crisis.

Click here to download and:

Find out how workers’ comp has turned the corner toward building a durable remedy for prescription drug abuse and misuse.
Learn from America’s best minds the multi-pronged approach that’s driving change.
See how Rx Intelligence technologies are vital to the solution.

We’d also love to hear what you’re doing to be part of the solution.

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Risk & Insurance Article on Rx Epidemic Features 911�Թ�’s Technology

Jason Beans — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:33:00 +0000

A great article on the Prescription Drug Epidemic was recently released in the . It’s written by 911�Թ�’s Leslie Yeransian who attended the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit earlier this year and interviewed a number of experts who are trying to fix the epidemic.

The article features some new technology 911�Թ� has developed, and has insights and comments from our Chief Compliance Officer and VP of Medical Review Services, Anne Kirby. It also addresses how Rx overuse impacts workers’ comp and what some great minds are doing to curb the problem. It is basically a preview of 911�Թ�’s upcoming white paper, “Fighting the Rx Epidemic: A Prescription for Workers’ Comp,” which comes out in mid-September. This is a critical issue for society, patient health, and the workers’ compensation system overall.

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