Is Early Prescribing of Opioid and Psychotropic Medications Associated With Delayed Return to Work and Increased Final Workers’ Compensation Cost?

Tao, Xuguang Grant; Lavin, Robert A; Yuspeh, Larry; Weaver, Virginia M.; Bernacki, Edward J.

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000557

Cited by 16 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…9 This finding was consistent with previously published workers' compensation literature. 1,3,7,8 However, it was noted that approximately 25% of the claimants who did not use any opioids during the initial 60 days postinjury used opioids subsequently.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…1,3,7,8 However, it was noted that approximately 25% of the claimants who did not use any opioids during the initial 60 days postinjury used opioids subsequently. 9 When these claimants with delayed opioid use (ie, opioids initiated after 60 days) were compared with the claimants prescribed opioids within the first 60 days, the outcomes for the claims with delayed opioid use were worse in terms of cost ($88,760 vs $56,577) and duration (1297 days vs 853 days). These findings led the authors to pursue the current research strategy in which claimants were stratified into subgroups on the basis of the period of stopping SA opioids usage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In previous papers, we have demonstrated that the adjuster's initial reserve was sufficient to stratify claims into various injury severity categories. [9][10][11][12] This methodology was employed in this study in a similar manner as our previous studies. Table 1 presents the SA opioid drug prescription patterns (use or nonuse) for each time window 1 to 30 days, 31 to 90 days, 91 to 180 days and >180 days, for claimants who lost time from work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[9][10][11][12][13] Use of the date of claim closure has some limitations, as it is not directly known whether claimants did return to work after closure of the claim.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a prior study, we noted an association between the use of short-acting (SA) opioids during the first 60 days postinjury and increased workers' compensation costs and delayed return to work. 9 However, Berecki-Gisolf et al 6 reported that opioid use, limited to the first 2 weeks post injury, was not associated with prolonged time out from work. This suggests that the use of opioids to treat the acute pain associated with an injury would not necessarily lead to prolonged disability durations or increased costs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Relationship Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Claim Duration and Cost

Lavin

Tao

Yuspeh

et al. 2016

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[9][10][11][12][13] Use of the date of claim closure has some limitations, as it is not directly known whether claimants did return to work after closure of the claim.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Relationship Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Claim Duration and Cost

Lavin

Tao

Yuspeh

et al. 2016

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Effect of an opioid management program for Colorado workers’ compensation providers on adherence to treatment guidelines for chronic pain

Tenney

McKenzie

Matus

et al. 2018

American J Industrial Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine adherence of state guidelines for Colorado workers’ compensation physicians/providers treating individuals as injured workers with chronic pain after initiation of an opioid management program and provider incentives. Methods: A retrospective cohort of chronic, non-cancer pain claims was constructed from the Colorado’s workers’ compensation database. Adherence to treatment guidelines and opioid prescribing practices were evaluated during implementation of a new billing code to incentivize adherence. Results: Overall, less than 33% of claims showed evidence of opioid management. Comprehensive opioid management was observed in only 4.4% of claims. In 2010, after implementing the new billing code, the ratio of long acting opioids to short acting opioids decreased from 0.2 to 0.13; returning to 0.2 in one year. Similarly, morphine equivalent doses declined for a short period. Conclusions: Incentivizing physicians to adhere to chronic pain management guidelines only temporarily improves prescribing practices.

show abstract

Impact of Opioid Use on Duration of Time Loss After Work-Related Lower Limb Injury

Szucs

Gray

2022

J Occup Rehabil

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose This study sought to determine patterns of opioid use among workers with a compensated lower limb injury, factors associated with opioid use, and how opioid use is associated with time loss duration. Methods Claims and medication data were provided by the workers’ compensation regulator of Victoria, Australia, for claims lodged 2008–2018 from workers aged 15+ years with a lower limb injury. Descriptive statistics showed the number and prevalence of each opioid type (weak/strong) by demographic, claim and injury predictors. Binary and multinomial logistic regression determined the likelihood of any opioid use, and use of strong, weak or a combination of strong and weak opioids by predictors. Cox regression determined the effect of each opioid type on duration of time loss, controlling for predictors. Results There were 51,334 claims and of these 23.6% were dispensed opioids (9.2% for strong opioids only, 6.6% for weak opioids only and 7.8% for a combination). Weak opioids, on average, were dispensed 15 days earlier than strong opioids. Time loss claims and workers with fractures or hip injuries were most likely to be dispensed opioids. All opioids were associated with increased duration of time loss, with those dispensed both weak and strong opioids having the longest duration of time loss. Conclusions Any opioid use was associated with longer time loss duration, with increasing opioid strength having a greater effect. Review of pain management methods should be undertaken to reduce opioid use, which may have a positive impact on duration of time loss and long-term function.

show abstract

Is Early Prescribing of Opioid and Psychotropic Medications Associated With Delayed Return to Work and Increased Final Workers’ Compensation Cost?

Abstract: Early prescription of opioids and other psychotropic drugs may be useful predictors of high claim costs and time lost from work.

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Relationship Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Claim Duration and Cost

Relationship Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Claim Duration and Cost

Effect of an opioid management program for Colorado workers’ compensation providers on adherence to treatment guidelines for chronic pain

Impact of Opioid Use on Duration of Time Loss After Work-Related Lower Limb Injury

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About