Study Finds Costs Spiral When Physicians Dispense Opioids

By Peter MantiusNorthern Bureau ChiefResearchers studying 6,824 workers’ compensation cases in Illinois have found that medical costs, indemnity costs and days lost from work were significantly higher in cases when physicians rather than pharmacies dispensed drugs, and the effect was pronounced when strong narcotics were involved.The results of their peer-reviewed study have been accepted for publication in the Journal of Occupation and Environmental Medicine. It is expected to run in April or May.Four researches from Accident Fund Holdings Inc., which owns several workers’ compens...