Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
70 doctors are writing one-third of the scripts for opioids in California. Most of those scripts are for conditions where opioids are NOT appropriate treatment. Those claimants that get opioids are off work 3.6 times longer; litigation is 60 percent … Continue reading California State Fund’s great work on opioids
Read More...From our friends on the west coast comes a story that demands much more discussion – the California State Fund’s (SCIF) decision to change its contracts with treating physicians in SCIF’s Medical Provider Network. [membership required] To read the response … Continue reading Those horrible people at the California State Fund
Read More...California’s State Fund has made impressive progress in the quest to reduce inappropriate opioid use – progress that has undoubtedly saved countless lives, helped thousands of workers regain their livelihood while protecting their families. This has been done thoughtfully and … Continue reading On chronic pain and opioids, California’s State Fund is getting it done.
Read More...Pick any eight – Utilization Review is: a pain in the neck for everyone involved marginally useful mostly manual, with limited cross-platform integration (claims, bill review, medical management, reporting) annoying, frustrating, and a time waster for providers forcing everyone to … Continue reading California’s State Fund is on the way to making UR work way better
Read More...The oft-maligned State Compensation Insurance Fund, aka California state fund, is back in the news again, this time for terminating the Fund’s long-time Medical Director, Gideon Letz. Dr Letz was at the Fund for over two decades, was an active … Continue reading In defense of the California state workers comp fund
Read More...The State Compensation Insurance Fund of California is the nation’s largest workers’ comp insurer, and by a significant margin. The Fund has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years, driven by the exit or demise of several competing carriers, … Continue reading California’s state workers’ comp fund
Read More...The state legislation that will MOST affect workers’ comp is often not ABOUT workers’ comp – rather it deals with other parts of the healthcare ecosystem. For example: Regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers FromWaPo: At least 41 state legislatures introduced bills … Continue reading State moves that will affect workers’ comp
Read More...If only Florida (‘s commitment to patient safety and responsible prescribing and good workers’ comp medical care) was like California. But…no. The Sunshine State’s work comp regulators and legislators don’t seem to care about patient safety or employer/taxpayer costs – … Continue reading If only Florida was like California
Read More...I’ve lauded the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp for their great successes reducing opioid usage. But, I’ve heard from many stakeholders that Ohio’s got a unique advantage; BWC is both the regulator AND the payor, so they get to do … Continue reading The State Fund is solving opioids
Read More...NCCI Chief Actuary Kathy Antonello’s State of the Line presentation – is the hot ticket at AIS. (Her presentation will be available here right after her presentation ends; the password is Transforming .) Antonello’s use of new imaging and automation … Continue reading Workers’ comp – 2016 State of the Line
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