Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the announcement from Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries that as of July 1, doctors can now only prescribe opioids for injured workers for 6 weeks without agency authorization, compared to the previous limit of 12 weeks.
Beyond the six week time frame, L&I’s continued coverage for opioids will depend on doctors’ use of best practices, including measuring physical function and screening for risk of addiction or side effects. L&I did note that while Washington has been among states with the highest levels of opioid-related deaths, they have seen high dosage levels coming down and fewer deaths among injured workers due to pain medication.
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