Payers are increasingly being held responsible for addiction and overdoses related to opioid pain medications prescribed for occupational injuries.

Several states have implemented closed formularies in their workers’ comp systems, and are reporting positive results in their efforts to address opioid abuse.

Doctors are achieving solid outcomes in transitioning opioid patients to medical marijuana, but lack of research and regulation on dosage still poses challenges for comp.

Excluding pharmacists from key pharmacy-related decisions in workers’ compensation just doesn’t make sense.

A tragic story provides an opportunity to reflect on the growth of workers’ comp claims services and their potential to help prevent it from happening again.

Efforts to limit opioid addiction are leading to heroin abuse.

Mayo Clinic researchers have isolated several characteristics that may help identify those most likely to become chronic opioid users.

Some doctors are turning to marijuana when opioids fail to ease patient pain. And courts say the treatment is reasonable under workers’ comp.

During its Annual Issues Symposium, NCCI identified the top legislative issues affecting the industry for the first quarter of the year.

Research shows the use of clinical dashboards can significantly impact the management of opioid use.

Despite a decrease in utilization of pharmaceuticals among injured workers, sharp price increases continue to drive costs upward.

Pharmacogentic testing has the potential to save money and even lives, but a great deal of skepticism remains.

Baby boomers have higher rates of substance abuse than generations before them, which could complicate workers’ comp claims and further lengthen recovery time.

Employers must ensure that their networks comply with policies governing physician dispensing and compounded drug prescriptions.

As treatments including medical marijuana gain traction in the workers’ comp space, employers need new strategies to manage the risks and contain costs.

Healthcare Solutions CEO Joe Boures answers R&I’s questions on client service, industry consolidation and the best Philly cheesesteaks.

Expert opinion is mixed on whether a new class of painkillers will solve the problems plaguing pain management efforts.

Physicians are not monitoring their patients’ opioid prescriptions closely enough, but PBMs can push guideline adherence.

California lawmakers are being cautioned to proceed carefully before instituting a closed pharmaceutical formulary.

A new report says health care payers last year confronted a “seismic change” in the pharmacy landscape in 2014.