New FDA Warning: Avoid Prescribing Opioids & Benzos Together

In a recent announcement by the FDA, boxed warning labels will now be required to advise against the utilization of prescription opioid pain medicines alongside benzodiazepines unless no other adequate alternative treatment method exists. Warnings about the risks of combining these two classes of drugs are nothing new. Already required on drug warning labels, additional black box warnings are an effort by the FDA to reach out to those who may have “missed the message.”

Classified as Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, each drug alone can trigger side effects such as respiratory depression (slowed/labored breathing), coma, and death, the effects of which are enhanced in combination. For clinicians living in the dark, these risks will now be spelled out in the black boxes of 389 different pharmaceuticals. Additionally, opioid painkillers such as oxycodone and benzos like alprazolam (i.e. Xanax®) – even the combination of opioid cough medicines with benzos and other CNS depressants (like alcohol) should be avoided. If the drugs must be used together, clinicians have been advised to warn patients of these risks.

The FDA’s latest measure in battling the nationwide epidemic of prescription opioid abuse, essentially classifies this drug combination in the “last resort” genre. Rates of emergency room visits resulting from the nonmedical use of this combination of drugs has tripled from 2004-2011, with the rates of drug-related deaths following suit. According to the FDA, these rates coincide with a 41% increase in patients prescribed both an opioid and benzo between years 2002-2014. The measure is a win for public health officials from 17 states and territories and 13 cities who petitioned the agency in February to require the boxed warning in an effort to fight the routine but unproven treatment method.

Bridging the gap is possible, however, with the help of clinically proven injury and disability treatments from ANS Solutions. Our expert medical legal nurse consultation services and Pharmacotherapy Review Program get the result patients need – without side effects – protecting and enhancing the quality of life for injured workers, and guarding against the medical and financial risks of unproven treatment methods with scientifically-backed protocols. Are you ready to set out on a new path in worker’s comp injury management? Contact http://www.ans-solutions.com today!

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Prescription Drugs and the Workers’ Compensation Arena

The U.S. remains the biggest global consumer of prescription drugs, up from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013 however a recent court ruling has called into direct question the prescription practices of physicians nationwide (Volkow).

The occurrence of unnecessary or medically inappropriate prescribing of opioids in pain management is compromising the lives and well-being of injured workers.  There are a number of serious issues concerning the use of opioids in pain management:

• Not cost effective
  Evidence-based reviews are seldom consulted prior to the prescribing of opioids, and a lack of appropriate physician monitoring and/or patient compliance further contributes to longer recovery periods and increased cost.
• Increased drug-drug interactions
  Polypharmacy, the use of 4 or more medications simultaneously with opioids, can result in drug-drug interactions with severe consequences for patient health.
• Risk for Addiction and Abuse
  The highly addictive nature of opioids leads to the necessity of higher doses over time, resulting in cost increase and greater risk of overdose/addiction. .
• Lack of evidence for proven benefit
  Recovery and return to work rates are not improved by the use of opioids in pain treatment. The American Academy of Neurology and a number of states have released product guidelines advising physicians to proceed with caution when initiating opioid therapy for pain or long-term use.

• Dose dependent risks for serious harm
  Physicians and patients are not always properly educated on use and good faith prescription practices and guidelines, including risks of remaining on disability, addiction, drug-drug interactions, and dosages at which death and risk of overdose dramatically increase.

Where do we go from here?
It’s never been more obvious than now that effective pain treatment must focus on the legitimacy and efficacy of treatments, keeping in mind the quality of care and quality of life of injured workers.  At ANS Solutions our pharmacotherapy review program is focused on protecting the injured worker by:

• Better addressing the needs of pain patients with the assessment of treatment programs and help of evidence based reviews.
• Improving recovery times with the proper monitoring and modifications of treatment.

• Reducing the risks associated with common opioid treatment regimens by consolidating and coordinating drug therapies between multiple prescribers, identifying duplicate therapies and excessive dosages, and pointing out alternate medication regimens.

Positive change stems from a comprehensive and economically responsible approach in the treatment of pain in workers compensation claims settlements. To learn more about pharmacotherapy review contact ANS today.

References

Volkow, Nora D. Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2015/prescription-opioid-heroin-abuse;  April 29, 2014.

Original content posted on: http://ans-solutions.com/prescription-drugs-and-the-workers-compensation-arena/

What’s Trending with California Workers’ Compensation

Though workers’ comp claims frequency is declining, a recently released California hospital report indicates claim severity is on the rise. Obtaining data from 35 hospitals and individual facilities, the Milliman and Keenan Healthcare report sourced more than 3,500 claims for review.

Trends identified in the report:

• A decline in indemnity and medical-only claims, with ALAE costs playing an increasing role in overall claims costs in recent years. More specifically:
  • Higher average costs per indemnity for workers over 30.
  • Lesser average severity of indemnity claims in workers 30 and younger, with payments more likely to be incurred as age increases.
• Over the 10-year period ending in 2014, overall losses per $100 of payroll have remained flat. This cumulative effect is believed due to reform laws enacted during this time, as identified in the report:
  • 2005-2014: Severity per indemnity claim (indemnity, medical, and allocated loss adjustment) rises almost 5.5%.
  • 2003-2004: Drop in claim severity (reform laws enacted during this time).
  • 2003-2008: Indemnity claim frequency declines dramatically.
• Costs per indemnity claim for 2014 accidents has decreased approximately 10% from the previous year.
• Litigated claims showed a significantly higher average claim severity. They contributed to 20% of total claims with indemnity payment, and account for approximately 54% of total incurred losses.
• Cost projections for 2015: $2.20 loss cost per $100 of payroll.

A Balanced Approach to Medical Cost Containment

In California’s complex and ever-changing workers’ comp environment, informed decision-making is essential to safeguarding results. At ANS, we pride ourselves at staying at the forefront of (legal and technological) industry changes to ensure the best possible outcomes for both our clients and injured workers.ANS’s three-staged Pharmacotherapy Review Program ensures economically balanced and appropriate treatment options for injured workers. Our legal nurse experts excel at presenting actionable treatment modification recommendations in clear, written proposals for treating physicians, including recommendations such as:

• Consolidation and coordination of drug therapies between multiple prescribers.
• Consideration of alternate therapies.
• Specification of weaning programs for over-prescribed narcotics.
• Use of generics where applicable.

The end result? A cost effective treatment regimen that simultaneously enhances the quality of care for injured workers. Discover more about this advanced and comprehensive treatment strategy. Contact http://www.ans-solutions.com today.

Original content posted on http://ans-solutions.com/whats-trending-with-california-workers-compensation/

Why ANS Pharmacotherapy Review is so Effective

The prescription pain medication crisis is taking its toll across the U.S. Costs are extreme, with a broad array of collateral damage fanning out from those effected to families and industries, among the hardest hit, workman’s comp. So extreme are the effects of addictive and deadly prescription opioids, even the Federal Government has taken notice, with the CDC stepping in to release new opioid prescribing best practices earlier this year in hopes of ushering in a new era for an ailing nation. The issue is out in the open. Are you missing out on the opportunity to protect patients and break the pharmaceutical cost cycle with a lackluster pharmaceutical intervention program?

Not all drug utilization review programs are created equal

Traditional pharmaceutical intervention programs often yield poor results. Why? Insufficient “drug evaluations” yield sub-optimal analyses, neglecting to account for patient and prescriber history, co-morbidities, and other important factors. Peer-to-peer, phone-based approaches questioning treatment efficacies have the tendency to put doctors on the defensive or induce feelings of frustration over micro-management. Non-binding, verbal commitments lead to repeated calls regarding the implementation of reduced treatment protocols, and ultimately future “call-dodging.” Settlement dates are then repeatedly pushed out, with poor clinical outcomes resulting.

ANS’s proprietary Pharmacotherapy Review

Pharmacotherapy review processes built on the foundation of the intelligent and intimate collaboration of all vested parties produces superior results. How does ANS’s Pharmacotherapy Review fix what’s broken in the typical pharma intervention system?

• In-depth, in-person collaborations. 
  In-office visits with legal nurse experts featuring evidence-based, patient-centered treatment plans presented in a non-threatening manner increase openness to alternative therapies.
• Clear guidelines.
  Written, signed, collaborative agreements are established within 4-5 weeks, complete with detailed drug utilization changes curtailing costly pharma regimes, keeping all parties accountable and on the same page.
• Patient-centered care.
  Physician-directed care with the interest of the injured patient in-mind, including expert consultation, thorough review of medical history and prescription data, and clinically-proven drug alternatives reduce Payer costs and improve patient quality of life, decreasing the potential for drug related issues such as drug interactions and overdose.
• Friendly follow-ups.
  Doctors work with a dedicated CLO (Clinical Liason Officer) until settlement. Repetition of visits with an established legal nurse builds better relationships, allowing for amiable quarterly follow-ups regarding compliance and treatment evaluations, ensuring proper dosing modifications or weaning of medications.
• Quantifiable impact (& performance guarantee).
  The hard work accomplished by ANS representatives and collaborating parties is seen in post-meeting reporting, showing enhanced clinical and patient outcomes as well as reduced pharmaceutical treatment costs. In fact, ANS proprietary Pharmacotherapy Review program boasts:
  • A success ratio of 94% of all case referrals.
  • Enhanced clinical/patient outcomes.
  • Acceleration of MSA settlements.
  • Average cost reductions of over 25%.
  • Loss ratio reductions from 1-2%.
  • Average first year savings of over $7,000.
  • Average life expectancy savings of greater than $250,000.
  • An average return on investment of 20 to 1.

Tired of using the same procedures and expecting a different outcome?
You won’t get extraordinary results with the average pharmaceutical intervention programs. Redefine success with the help of ANS Solutions Pharmacotherapy Review.

Contact http://www.ans-solutions.com today.

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Bipartisan Opioid Abuse Bill

In an effort to reverse the rapidly rising death toll from heroin, prescription drugs, and opioids across the U.S. which has recently risen to surpass automobile accidents as the leading cause of injury-related deaths according to the CDC, legislation has been drafted in a rare bipartisan effort.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
Designed to strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs, better trace the diversion of opioid drugs, and increase promotion and access to addiction recovery services, CARA will also open up a variety of prevention and treatment avenues:

• Prevention and education efforts designed to prevent methamphetamine, opioid, and heroin abuse.
• Increased availability of Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal agent, to first responders and law enforcement personnel.
• Disposal sites for unwanted prescriptions.
• Resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering opioid-related addiction disorders.

Well On Its Way
The bill has been approved by the House and the Senate, with both parties offering broad support. It is the first time in decades Congress has passed comprehensive addiction legislation, and the first time in history they’ve supported long-term addiction recovery. CARA is now on its way to the President’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. Mr. Obama has already requested $1.1 billion in funds toward the fight against opioid addiction.

Taking Action
Do you wish there was something you could do now to help in the fight against the nation’s continually rising opioid epidemic? You don’t have to wait on CARA to start making a difference. ANS Solutions proprietary Pharmacotherapy Review helps curtail costly and potentially dangerous pharmaceutical treatment regimens, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through expert knowledge and evidence-based, alternative treatment methods devised face-to-face with the help of treating doctors. Discover the difference an actionable drug utilization review can make. Contact http://www.ans-solutions.com today.

Original content posted on http://ans-solutions.com/bipartisan-opioid-abuse-bill/

Patient Engagement Encouraged through Prescription Drug Label Enhancements

Upcoming improvements to prescription drug labeling are hoped to positively affect patient care across the board. Intentionally kept in the dark on the ingredients and indications of prescription drugs for well-over 100 years, the healthcare industry is shifting from the past’s blind trust to finally realizing today’s modern paradigm: Engaging patients as active participants in their own healthcare endeavors.
Small Label, Big Impact
Improving the synchronization between in-office care and home care, the FDA’s latest labeling procedures will not only help patients under a physician’s care better understand why each medication is being prescribed, clearly listing indications on each prescription drug product’s label, but offer a vast array of opportunities for the betterment of treatment regimes, helping…
In the understanding of prescription regimens and scheduling.

• Verify each prescription is effective/providing benefits for its intended purpose.
• Reduce confusion following brief or rushed clinic encounters.
• Make the identification of drugs easier to allow for proper use/best practices.
• Reduce the incidence of over-prescription, duplicate or unnecessary medications.
• Keep not only patients, but caregivers, pharmacists, and other treating physicians in-the-know on conditions being treated and desired outcomes.
• Improve safety by reducing prescription or dispensing errors.

The Missing Link
This added information, “knowledge” (dubbed the “sixth” patient right in a recent publication of The New England Journal of Medicine), is bringing to light details which have previously fallen through the cracks in today’s modern world of typically rushed, commonly overcomplicated healthcare regimens. Information critical to the patient’s understanding of why a medication has been prescribed and for what conditions or purposes, allowing for a clearer assessment of efficacy for all involved parties.
Are You Living In The Dark?
At ANS Solutions, we also understand the benefits of synchronicity in patient care. The role this plays in in treatment progression, effectiveness, and quality of life from the treatment of routine health issues to return-to-work programs for injured workers is second-to-none. That’s why our industry standard pharmacotherapy review program focuses on face-to-face collaborative care, built upon the integrative collaboration of all effected parties, from the injured worker to our skilled nurse experts and treating physicians, allowing us to produce the very best outcomes in the business with the latest in clinically-proven treatment regimens.
Healthcare costs and injured workers ailing? Uncover a new era in workers’ comp treatment. Contact http://www.ans-solutions.com today.
Sources:

• http://www.painmedicinenews.com/Web-Only/Article/08-16/Adding-Medication-Purpose-to-Prescription-Drug-Labels-Improves-Patient-Safety/37249/ses=ogst

 Original content posted on http://ans-solutions.com/patient-engagement-encouraged-through-prescription-drug-label-enhancements/

Is Regulation the Answer to Rising Pharma Costs?

National pressure has been building for government regulation on pharmaceutical costs.  A recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 72% of Americans think drug costs are unreasonable and demand more transparency from drug companies, especially when it comes to how they set prices.(1) In the face of this discourse, the accountability of pharmaceutical companies has grown as a key focus of recent state and federal regulations.

In the state of Vermont, expensive prescriptions drugs distributed by manufacturers must now justify their exorbitant costs, according to a newly introduced state bill. This new approach, dubbed ‘transparency bills’ stipulates that the information provided by drug makers will be made public, and if they fail to submit, fining will result. It further requires that health insurers provide information to enrollees, potential enrollees, and providers regarding the exchange plans’ drug formularies, including covered drugs, cost-sharing prices, drug tiers, prior authorization, step therapy and utilization management requirements, whose facets are rarely known and understood. Similar measures have also been introduced in other states including California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.

A debate has been brewing around whether regulation is truly the best solution for pharmaceutical cost containment. Opposing views are camped around the significance of immediate verse long-term effects. Those in opposition raise concerns that such regulation will only produce modest consumer savings while the reduction in pharmaceutical revenues will slow the pace of innovation thus reducing life expectancy and the release of new drugs for future generations. Proponents believe that the benefit of lower prices experienced by consumers now far outweighs these concerns. Influenced by this growing debate, researchers at RAND Corporation examined the impact of drug price regulation in the US. Key findings include(2):

• The regulation of pharmaceutical prices has increased in recent years on a global scale
• Regulation has been seen to reduce pharmaceutical revenues.
• Alternative approaches that reduce consumer costs without affecting pharmaceutical revenues are more likely to benefit current and future generations of consumers.

Ans Solutions specializes in pharmaceutical cost containment that optimizes outcomes for the injured worker while also minimizing financial impact for payers.

Sources

• http://kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-august-2015/
• http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9412.html

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