New opioid prescribing rules takes effect in Ohio

Ohio BWC addresses opioid dependence issue with new rules

Workers Comp

By Allie Sanchez

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has implemented new regulations governing the prescription of opioids to patients who were injured on the job.

The changes took effect October 1.

Ohio BWC aims to prevent opioid dependence by encouraging appropriate prescribing behavior by physicians certified by the bureau.

“This is a major step forward in protecting the health and safety of Ohio’s injured workers,” BWC administrator and chief executive Sarah Morrison observed. “While opioids often play an important and necessary role in recovery from a workplace injury, long-term use can become a hindrance to recovery. This rule provides oversight essential to balancing the appropriate care required for recovery and overprescribing that endangers the health of injured workers.”

Under the new rules, reimbursement of opioid prescriptions will be limited to claims in which best practices are followed, such as individualized treatment plan development, risk assessment, and monitoring.

Further, BWC will provide treatment for opioid dependence.

BWC began to actively address opioid dependence in 2010 with the creation of its first ever formulary. Total opioid doses have decreased by 44% since then.
 

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