Quote of the day
“We are encouraging injured workers to discuss with their physicians other effective painkillers on our formulary and to explore non-medication treatment options for chronic pain.”
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud
Ohio BWC drops OxyContin coverage
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is phasing out coverage for the prescription opioid OxyContin, or generic sustained-release oxycodone tablets, “given the potential for abuse, misuse, addiction, and dependence,” according to a statement. The BWC’s board of directors approved the phase-out plan in February, following a recommendation from the bureau’s chief medical officer to replace the painkiller, which some have linked to the opioid crisis, with Xtampza ER. The rule does not apply to immediate-release oxycodone, a medication used for acute pain. Akron Beacon Journal
Connecticut lawmakers restore PTSD workers’ comp deal
A day after the breakthrough deal almost collapsed, the Connecticut Senate salvaged a bipartisan compromise to restore workers’ compensation coverage for post-traumatic distress order for police and firefighters. The Senate approved the bill unanimously after an agreement to evaluate expanding coverage. Waterbury Republican-American [may require registration]
New York horsemen to receive refund, lower workers’ compensation rate
The New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund has announced a plan intended to further decrease the cost of workers’ compensation insurance for horsemen in New York, as a result of legislation that allows the fund to take up to $2 million from the excess New York Racing Association purse cushion to offset the high cost of workers’ compensation in the state. The base payment decrease is retroactive to January 1, 2019. Paulick Report
Federal judge: Lawsuit over workers’ comp claim ‘incomprehensible’
A Florida man who sued his insurance carrier pro se has an “incomprehensible” pleading related to a workers’ compensation claim arising from an alleged hand injury, a judge has ruled. Florida Record
Workers Compensation Research Institute executive vice president and counsel Ramona Tanabe discusses some of the more interesting trends her organization is seeing in the field currently. Legal Talk Network