Workers compensation prescription drug utilization is trending downward, but the costs of medication are rising, primarily due to costly topical agents that mostly come from out-of-network physician dispensing channels, according to a report released Monday by Enlyte LLC.
In 2023, the workers comp industry saw an overall per-claim decrease and a decrease in opioids prescriptions for injured workers, but it also experienced double-digit cost increases due to new prescribing trends, the report states.
In addition to increasing costs related to topical prescriptions, migraine medications and respiratory drugs also contributed to higher drug spending. Respiratory drug costs increased 14.7% in 2023 while migraine medications rose 10.2%, according to the report.
Meanwhile, opioid utilization per claim dropped 9.7% and cost per claim decreased 7.2%, even while opioids continued to be the top drug prescribed to injured workers. Morphine equivalent dose prescriptions declined for the ninth consecutive year, falling 14% in 2023.
The overall number of workers comp prescriptions per claim dropped 3.7% in 2023, costs per prescription rose 7.3%, and costs per claim fell 3.3%, the report states.
The report also shows that the top five therapeutic drug classes by cost in 2023 were topicals, opioids, anticonvulsants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants.
