Long-Awaited Treatment Guidelines Take Effect

Four years after lawmakers mandated the use of treatment guidelines, Arizona now has in place evidence-based rules in place governing the appropriate use of opioids for treating chronic pain. At the same time, the state now has a utilization review process intended to fast track resolution of disputes when a treatment request is denied. Rules adopted by the Industrial Commission of Arizona that took effect Saturday require that certain treatment requests comply with the recommendations in the chronic pain section of the Official Disability Guidelines, published by the Work Loss Data Institut...