Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The work comp Pharmacy Benefit Management business has become hyper-competitive; total drug spend has dropped 6 of the last 7 years, there’s been massive consolidation of PBMs, margins are declining…all signs of a very mature industry. Sounds like a not-very-attractive-business…right? Well, … Continue reading A creative way to generate work comp PBM revenue.
Read More...A nurse was convicted of “reckless homicide and impaired adult abuse” after she inadvertently – and unintentionally – injected a patient with the wrong drug. RaDonda Vaught faces six years in prison I’m pretty angry about this – and that … Continue reading a patient dies, a nurse is blamed, a prosecutor’s behavior is amoral, and a hospital escapes blame.
Read More...A panel discussion on the State of the Workers’ Comp System featuring Alan Pierce, David Langham, John Ruser and Bruce Wood closed WCRI’s 38th Conference. The discussion was spirited, there were significant disagreements all handled with respect and courtesy – … Continue reading How’s the work comp “system” today?
Read More...I’ve done a few podcasts recently, and find them to be a lot of fun. Yvonne and Rafael hosted me in a kick off the second season of their Deconstructing Comp pod…we dove into opioids, humility, making things real, testifying … Continue reading Quick hits…
Read More...I spend a lot of time in the weeds, digging into facility reimbursement details, evaluating COVID infection rate studies, identifying new work comp scams, figuring out if WC claims will increase, railing at insurers and TPAs that aren’t doing what … Continue reading What’s the state of work comp “managed care”?
Read More...One of the top work comp events is three weeks away – WCRI’s annual research conference kicks off on March 23 and continues the following day. Registration is here. I connected with John Ruser PhD to get the scoop on … Continue reading COVID, Claims, Employment, Opioids, and Physical Therapy – WCRI’s got it all
Read More...Moody’s report on the impact of COVID19 on workers’ compensation says stuff I agree with, namely: Premium dollars will drop. Rates will drop. Claim counts will drop. It also says profits will be pressured and future earnings reduced, asserting presumption … Continue reading COVID’s impact on work comp – Moody’s view
Read More...myMatrixx released it’s annual Drug Trend Report yesterday; there’s a lot of good news – and a few trends that bear close attention. The good stuff (lots more in the report itself) drug costs per patient decreased by 2.4% despite … Continue reading Work comp drug trends – costs and opioid use down, physician dispensers still a big problem
Read More...So, who knew masks could be so dangerous? In our continued effort to keep us all honest about “science” and “research”, I have to weigh in on a recent piece wherein some folks seem to be concerned about mask wearing’s … Continue reading Masks and IWP gets hammered.
Read More...The hammer is starting to fall on the opioid industry and the repercussions are echoing thru the comp industry. J&J owes Oklahoma $573 million after losing its case in the state Purdue Pharma’s owners are trying to settle all suits … Continue reading Chronic pain, opioids, and workers’ comp
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