Chronic pain is by far the most debilitating—and for claimspayers the most costlycompensable condition in workers'compensation, according to a new specialreport from WorkCompCentral.
The report chronicles the way opioid use greatly expanded inworkers' comp over the last 20 years, then halted and is now inretreat as a result of increased criticism and research into itsefficacy. The report also provides practical suggestions to rethinkthe approach to chronic pain—that is, pain that persists beyondexpected healing time.
Opioids are defined as medications that relieve pain by reducingthe intensity of pain signals reaching the brain, for example,hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphineand fentanyl. Although some use the term “narcotics” to refer tothese drugs, it's a less precise term.
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Rosalie Donlon
Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].
