Labor Reps Want Insurers to Pay for Non-Opioid Treatments and Not Wean Workers Too Quickly

Labor representatives on the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council are proposing legislation that would attack addiction to opioids by compensating workers who undertake alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage, electrical stimulation and medical marijuana. The proposals were offered up during the council’s meeting Tuesday and are in addition to several recommendations labor made last month to increase worker benefits. The labor proposals include a provision that would force insurers to continue paying for opioids for at least 30 days from the date an independent medi...