Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The state of Washington is a monopolistic workers comp state; unless an employer is large enough to be self-insured, it has to buy workers comp insurance from the state itself. As a monopolistic state, the regulators have even more power … Continue reading Washington’s smart policy on opioids
Read More...I’m on a bit of a tear these days on the work comp drug thing; the more I talk with knowledgeable people the crazier it gets. Several recent conversations concerned the factors driving up costs: here’s what a few industry … Continue reading What’s driving up drug costs in comp
Read More...Jim Andrews of Cypress Care (a consulting client and WC PBM) gave a talk yesterday about some of the differences between drug spend in WC and group health. Here are a few of the main points I picked up.
Read More...I’m continuing to follow the fortunes of Revolution Health, the Steve Case venture into health care, consumerism, education, wellness, and peripheral matters. Not much new news since my last query; the website is still under construction, but you can enter … Continue reading MySpace for hypochondriacs
Read More...Actiq, the lollypop pain killer, is rapidly becoming the biggest problem drug in workers comp. FDA approved only for treating cancer pain, the potent narcotic is now on most payers’ top 5 drug list (ranked by dollars spent). There are … Continue reading Workers comp’s top problem drug
Read More...The Hartford’s annual study of drug costs provides insights into what drugs are driving costs, and the results a carrier can expect if they work hard at managing drugs. The big insurer enjoyed a reduction (!) in drug costs year-over-year … Continue reading What drugs are driving WC costs?
Read More...Drugs account for over one-eighth of workers compensation medical expenses, and that number continues to increase. The data from NCCI’s latest research paper on workers compensation drug costs is consistent with the findings of my firm’s research, and provides additional … Continue reading More on drugs in workers comp
Read More...I spent most of Sunday and yesterday speaking at several sessions at the Florida Workers’ Comp Educational Conference in Orlando. Nothing like Orlando in August. Also on the panels were several physicians from Florida, Gerry Sander, a PharmD from Express … Continue reading Drug problems in workers comp
Read More...There are signs that drug marketing is beginning to change, as the FDA focuses on off-label use and some of the big pharmas cut back on their sales forces. This may well be as part of big pharma’s efforts to … Continue reading Drug detailing, direct-to-consumer ads, and off-label use addressed
Read More...The Hartford has just released an internal study of the costs of prescription drugs in Workers’ Compensation, and while it only covers the company’s own experience, the report does add a little more depth to the research released by Health … Continue reading More on drugs in workers’ comp
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