Featured Articles

In an effort to reduce the epidemic number of overdose-related deaths and injuries associated with the misuse of opioid analgesics, many states have been looking to enact legislation to help curb this trend. One way states have tried to accomplish this is to establish prescribing quantity limits on opioid analgesics. They are also establishing…[Continue Reading]

Today, 25 states and the District of Coumbia provide statutory language that allows for the comprehensive use of medical marijuana.1 With growing legal momentum for medical marijuana, it is no longer a question of if it will impact workers’ comp, but when and how. So now the question becomes: what might that future look like…[Continue Reading]

Throughout 2016 Optum is offering a comprehensive continuing education program in which its experts share actionable insight on workers’ compensation trends and challenges. Following each presentation, they will provide Key Takeaways reiterating guidance, that when applied, lead to better outcomes. Opioid analgesics have an important place…[Continue Reading]

The high prevalence of chronic pain coupled with the risks associated with the use of prescription medications, particularly opioid analgesics to treat pain, has led to increasing interest in the development of nonpharmacologic treatment options. One such nonpharmacologic treatment category, electromedical devices, is sometimes overlooked. While the different…[Continue Reading]

While a number of variables influence how medications affect each claimant, clinical evidence suggests that genetics may influence how medication metabolizes in the body. A growing area of study, pharmacogenetics explores how inherited or acquired genetic variations may influence an individual’s response to medication therapy. When contemplating…[Continue Reading]

A tube of Voltaren® Gel (diclofenac), a commonly prescribed topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), will cost a payer $60. Yet when it is packaged together with antibacterial wipes, its list price may be about nine times this cost, at $500. Convenience packs, or “co-packs” are not a new concept in workers’ compensation. However, there has been…[Continue Reading]

While many people are aware of the risks of misuse, abuse, addiction and even overdose that accompany the use of opioid analgesics, not everyone understands the profound affects they can have on nearly every body system. Last summer you met Anne, a 45-year old woman who injured her back at work. Over the course of her claim…[Continue Reading]

Advanced imaging, including the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans frequently used in workers’ compensation, help physicians diagnose workplace injuries and develop effective treatment plans. Numerous studies show that advanced imaging has improved medical outcomes in the areas of declining mortality, reduced…[Continue Reading]

Decision points and intervention opportunities regarding a patient’s drug therapy can vary over the lifetime of a claim and per individual patient. Up front, basic interventions such as having a drug formulary in place can put a claim on the right path from the start, while well-established and more complex claims might require more strategic clinical…[Continue Reading]

We’ve all experienced those times when much-needed sleep was elusive or have been woken up in the middle of the night only to find you just can’t get back to sleep. Whether caused by stresses from social obligations, work, or home responsibilities, an occasional bout of insomnia, while frustrating, is relatively harmless. However, for those…[Continue Reading]