Drug Policy and Workers Compensation

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently released its first-ever guidelines on opioid prescription. Changes to the way that opioid use is managed will have effects on workers’ compensation claim. In addition to the negative effect on the employee, a workers’ compensation claim where an injured worker becomes addicted or dependent on prescription painkillers such as opioids increases the medical benefits portion of the claims, decreases the alertness at work, and increases likelihood of absenteeism and theft.

These new guidelines suggested that except for some limited circumstance opioids should be the last resort in pain management after ibuprofen, referring a patient to a physical therapist, or using injection treatments. The guidelines also suggest refills should only be approved after a urine analysis to monitor for overuse.

It is important to keep your employees informed regarding the dangers of use of prescription painkillers. You may also want to include prescription medicine abuse as part of your drug policy and pre and post hire drug testing.