Search
 

Study finds increase in drug testing in California Workers' Comp

A new study from CWCI found drug tests have been added to more WC pain management programs in published treatment guidelines throughout California.

By Caterina Pontoriero | Updated on October 13, 2015

A new study from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) found drug tests have been added to more Workers’ Compensation pain management programs in published treatment guidelines throughout the state of California. The increased use of opioids over the past decade and growing concerns about the long-term reprecussions have influenced this increase, says CWCI.

In the report, titled “The Utilization and Cost of Drug Testing in the California Workers’ Compensation System,” CWCI analyzed a database of 2.8 million clinical lab service records for urine drug tests (UDTs) performed on California injured workers between 2002 and 2014, for which claims administrators paid $108 million. According to Stacy Jones, CWCI senior research associate, UDTs as a percentage of all California WC lab services increased nearly six-fold over the last eight years — from 10.2% in 2007 to 59.1% in 2014. As a result, UDT payments went up from 23% to 77% of WC lab payments over the same period.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Dig Deeper

Recommended Stories

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.