Relationship Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Claim Duration and Cost

Abstract

Claim cost and lost time are related to when and how long opioids are prescribed for work-related injuries.

Early Drug Prescription Patterns as Predictors of Final Workers Compensation Claim Costs and Closure

“…However, average opioid MED greater than 5 mg/d prescribed during the initial 6 months after injury was adversely related to both cost and lost time (claim duration; Tables 4). In a previous study using data from LWCC, the authors noted that early opioid prescribing during the initial 30-day period after an injury is generally associated with improved WC outcomes, presumably because opioids were used for their indication to treat acute injuries and then terminated after a short time frame 4 . Those findings are confirmed in the current study.…”

Factors Associated With Persistent Opioid Use Among Injured Workers’ Compensation Claimants

“…This study builds on previous opioid use research in workers’ compensation claimants with its broad inclusion criteria and substantially longer study duration. The inclusion of the adjudicated level of benefits to the claimant ranging from medical-only claims to permanent total disability is novel . Beyond insight into the severity of the injury, the benefit level of the claimant may provide a surrogate marker for the motivation of the worker to return to work and the legal representation available to the worker to pursue more substantial benefits.…”

“…The inclusion of the adjudicated level of benefits to the claimant ranging from medical-only claims to permanent total disability is novel. 7 Beyond insight into the severity of the injury, the benefit level of the claimant may provide a surrogate marker for the motivation of the worker to return to work and the legal representation available to the worker to pursue more substantial benefits. This is evident by the significant protective effect of medical-only claims and temporary total disability claims when compared with permanent partial disability claims and the increased likelihood of persistent opioid use among permanent total disability claims.…”

“…Persistent opioid use in injured workers were previously linked with more costly claims and attributed to an overall loss in work productivity. 7 , 8 The factors that led to persistent opioid use or dependence are unknown. This study of workers’ compensation records may provide a unique insight into 18 to 65 years of age group most at risk for an opioid misuse, addiction, or overdose.…”

“…There is a strong economic rationale for studying persistent opioid use among injured workers. Persistent opioid use in injured workers were previously linked with more costly claims and attributed to an overall loss in work productivity . The factors that led to persistent opioid use or dependence are unknown.…”