“The more we're able to understand thatperson and what they're dealing with, the better we're able to helpthem get back to where they were prior to where their injuryoccurred,” says Ives. (Credit: Steve Heap/Shutterstock)

Nearly everything one can think of falls under the vastumbrella that is insurance. This can place a heavy burden on thosein the industry to nip risks in the bud before they bloom. Onerisk, in particular, that has the attention of both the insurance industry and the public at large is theopioid crisis.

As the crisis fermented in recent years, the Travelers CompaniesInc. sought out a way to curtail the use of opioids among injuredworkers, particularly those in labor-intensive industries. InApril, the company reported an almost 40% reduction in the use ofopioids among the injured construction workers it has helped,thanks to a combination of its Early Severity Predictor model andits pharmacy management program.

The company isn't just focused on the constructionindustry — there is a company-wide initiative across itsworkers' compensation portfolio — but the sector garnerssignificant attention due to the currentlabor shortage.

“The construction industry is dealing with a couple of reallysignificant workforce demographic issues that are increasing boththe frequency and severity of worker injury,” says Rick Keegan,president of construction at Travelers. According to Travelersdata, 43% of all workers' compensation construction claims happenwith tenure for less than one year and 66% with less than threeyears.

Related: Top 5 causes of workers' compensation direct costsby industry sector

A Travelers timeline

More than five years ago, Travelers saw a rise in thefrequency of workers' compensation claims where the person was developinginto chronic pain.

To get ahead, Richard Ives, vice president of workers'compensation claim at Travelers, says the organization started toask if there are variables that it can know early on in the life ofthe claim that identifies if an individual is at a highrisk of developing chronic pain. Among other variables,Travelers looked at an individual's course of treatment,the complications the individual is dealing with and theprescription medicine they've received.

The Early Severity Predictor was established as aresult. The company's proprietary model helps forecast whichinjured employees are at a higher risk of developing chronic pain.Travelers also relies on its pharmacy management program,which monitors drug interactions, excessive dosing and abusepatterns to reduce the risk of opioid dependency.

Opioids affect both the mind and body, and Travelers has made aconcerted effort to tackle both aspects. If an injured worker isn't responding to physicaltherapy, Travelers's claims professionals and nurses might gowith the injured worker to their next medical visit to work withthe primary care provider; for others, it means a closerexamination at eating and exercise habits.

“The more we're able to understand that person and what they'redealing with, the better we're able to help them get back to wherethey were prior to where their injury occurred,” says Ives.

To date, Travelers has seen a decrease in the number of injuredworkers who need surgery, the number of workers who need time awayfrom work and in overall opioid use across all industries.

“We are committed to using our deep domain expertise, and ourindustry-leading data and analytics, to address the causes ofchronic pain,” says Ives. “We're finding new ways to curbprescription opioid abuse while getting injured workers the carethey need to return to work as soon as is medicallyappropriate.”

Related: Oklahoma AG Seeks $13 billion in first opioidtrial