Carrier Says Program Helped Cut First-Fill Opioids by Half

A program launched by WCF Insurance has helped reduce by about half the number of pills dispensed to injured workers in their first opioid prescription fill, the company has reported. The reduction, seen over a 12-month period, amounts to roughly 41,000 opioid pills, according to WCF, Utah’s largest workers’ comp carrier. At the same time, the company is working to reduce opioid consumption among injured workers who are chronic users. Addressing chronic opioid use has been more challenging, acknowledged Paola Stauffer, vice president of claims operations at WCF Insurance. I...