The workers compensation industry is looking to put a stop to prescription drugs that are being used to treat injured workers for off label use.  It is being viewed as dangerous and pricey for the comp industry.

It has been shown that one in five prescriptions written are for off label use.  This means that the purpose they are being written for is outside of the realm approved by the FDA.  Abilify and Actiq are two of the big drugs that are prescribed in workers compensation.

Abilify is a drug that the FDA has approved for the add on treatment of depression in patients.  It is being seen in workers compensation for the treatment of depression and anxiety in injured workers as a single use drug.  Abilify is a highly expensive drug that is raising the cost of workers compensation claims.

In 2013 it was shown that $6.5 billion was spent on Abilify in the United States alone.

The biggest off label use for drugs in workers compensation is seen in pain management.  Workers comp is spending $1.5 billion a year in off label pain management drugs.

Actiq is an FDA approved opioid for breakthrough, chronic cancer pain.  So what is this drug doing being seen so widely used in workers compensation?  The answer is none – most times cancer is not a workers compensation case where Actiq would need to be approved for.

Utilization review needs to come into play and work to flag claims like this and monitor claims to keep the injured worker safe as well as help keep the cost of medical claims down.

Source:  Business Insurance