Questioning the Use of Opiod Painkillers Such as Oxycodone to Treat Workers' Comp Claims in California
Looks like a few doctors in California have some serious explaining to do. According to a recent study released by the California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI), the majority of serious narcotic prescriptions used to treat workers' compensation claims are coming from just 3 percent of doctors. This small group is providing more than half of all prescriptions for powerful opioid painkillers such as oxycodone. Interestingly, these prescriptions were used to treat minor back injuries.
The drugs are part of a category of medications described as "Schedule II" which relates to their level of potency. This group of drugs includes the likes of oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, and codeine. Only "Schedule I" drugs such as heroin, which is illegal and not used medically, are stronger. While "Schedule II" drugs are approved for pain management by the FDA, they are known to be highly addictive and are commonly abused.
Data from health insurance companies and overseers of the workers' compensation system were used in the study. Data consisted of claims lodged in the four year period from 2005 to 2009. The report cites that merely 3 percent of all physicians account for 55 percent of all prescriptions of "Schedule II" medications. It also states that these individuals, who equate to about 279 doctors, are responsible for 67 percent of payments - or 2 of every 3 dollars - for these drugs.
Also, the study found that the number of "Schedule II" prescription drugs dispensed in California workers' compensation cases increased by 414 percent from 2005 to 2009. In that same four year time frame, payments for these drugs jumped from 3.8 percent to 24 percent of total drug costs, representing a 521 percent increase.
The question puzzling researchers is why. Alex Swedlow, one of the authors of the study and executive vice president of the institute says that the motive for the over-prescribing is still unknown. What is known is that these providers were prescribing these types of drugs in much higher doses than other health care professionals.
According to the CWCI, the concern is that the level of dosage prescribed by these providers is consistent with that seen in overdose and addiction cases. Another concern is that these types of medications are not typically used to treat the types of back injuries reported. The CWCI also cites that injured workers taking these types of powerful painkillers need on average about 119 percent longer to recover than those receiving low or no doses of the narcotics.
The results of the study suggest that more research needs to be done on the subject. The CWCI is calling for the questionable prescribing practices to be investigated, citing a need for accountability and reform. Researchers claim that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has access to all information concerning the doctors' identities.