Tag Archives: workers’ compensation

PRIUM’s Mark Pew Discusses Rx Drug War in Work Comp at CLM Medical Legal Summit

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Pew participates in panel discussion on the prescription drug war, a medical, legal and claims perspective on the national pain killer crackdown. 

CHICAGO (June 4, 2015) — PRIUM’s Senior Vice President Mark Pew participated in a panel discussion, “The Prescription Drug War: A Medical/Legal/Claims Perspective on the National Painkiller Crackdown” at the 2015 CLM Medical Legal Summit on June 3. Jessica Smythe with ISO Claims Partners and Jeremey Cayton of Liberty Mutual joined Pew on the panel.

Pew focused on the supply and demand of prescription drugs in workers’ compensation. Among other things, he reviewed the impact of Food and Drug Administration’s rescheduling of hydrocodone products in October 2014.  The U.S. uses 99 percent of all the world’s hydrocodone, and 16.2 percent of the total work comp drug spend comes from hydrocodone-combination products, such as Norco, according to Helios’ 2013 Drug Trends Report.

“Since America’s overuse of prescription pain drugs is no longer a secret, there are many initiatives intended to dampen both supply and demand,” Pew said.  He highlighted the ones that can have the strongest impact on workers’ compensation by influencing prescribing behavior.  

The Medical Legal Summit addressed a wide range of medical legal topics to educate and assist claims professionals and attorneys in the complexities of managing claims and litigation involving these topics. PRIUM is also a sponsor of the summit.

About PRIUM
An Ameritox solutions provider, PRIUM sets the industry standard for workers' compensation medical interventions through its ability to secure higher agreement rates and ensure compliance with modified treatment plans. The hallmark of the medical intervention company's success is a collaborative physician engagement process encompassing evidence-based medicine, clinical oversight, and jurisdictional guidelines to ensure optimal financial and clinical outcomes. PRIUM eliminates unnecessary treatment through a comprehensive approach that includes complex medical interventions, utilization reviews, and independent medical exams.  Based in Duluth, Ga., PRIUM can be reached at www.prium.net or 888-588-4964. 

Website: www.prium.net
Blog: www.priumevidencebased.com
linkedin.com/in/markpew
Mark Pew – Twitter: @RxProfessor

About the CLM
The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) promotes and furthers the highest standards of claims and litigation management and brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM’s Members and Fellows include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs, provides resources and fosters communication among all in the industry. To learn more about the CLM, please visit www.theclm.org. 

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Contact: 
Helen Knight, King Knight Communications, 813-690-4787, helen@kingknight.com
Susan Wisbey, The Claims and Litigation Alliance, susan.wisbey-smith@theclm.org

MedRisk’s new website focuses on educating patients, providers & claims managers…

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KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. (May 14, 2015) – MedRisk, the leader in physical rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging solutions for the workers’ compensation industry, has launched its new website, medrisknet.com.

The new site makes it easier than ever for payers, adjusters, case managers, network providers, physicians, and patients to learn more about – and connect with – the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based managed care company. Medrisknet.com is easy to navigate, fully integrated with MedRisk’s client portal, and presents a dynamic user experience across all devices – desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

MedRisk_Website_2015

“These days clients, partners and patients choose to connect with MedRisk on the web,” said Chief Executive Officer and Founder Shelley L. Boyce. “Our new site makes this remarkably easy to do. Whether a visitor wants to submit a referral, download case documentation, find a network provider, or simply learn more about our service offerings, everything they need is only a few clicks away. It’s just another way for us to provide exceptional levels of service and responsiveness.”

The new site was designed and developed with Altitude Marketing, a Pennsylvania-based B2B marketing firm.

About MedRisk
MedRisk is the leader in managed physical medicine and diagnostic imaging solutions for the workers’ compensation industry. Founded in 1994 and based in King of Prussia, Pa., MedRisk is accredited under URAC for utilization management and has successfully completed a SSAE 16 Type II examination. MedRisk’s integrated programs deliver savings and operational efficiencies that are significantly greater than traditional programs. Customers include insurance carriers, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, state funds, and case management companies. To make a referral or obtain more information, visit www.medrisknet.com or call 800-225-9675.

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Contacts:
Helen Knight, 813-690-4787, helen@kingknight.com
Rommy Blum, (610) 768-5812×1150, rblum@medrisknet.com,, 800-225-9675.

PRIUM’s Mark Pew Addresses Ohio Self Insured Conference

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ATLANTA, GA. (June 3, 2014) – PRIUM’s Mark Pew reviews ways to control opioid use in workers’ compensation during a panel discussion at the OSIA 40th Annual Conference, “Workers’ Comp Superheroes.”

Pew will join Denise Evans, director of workers’ compensation claims at Staffmark, Paige Bowling of Corporate Pharmacy Services, Inc., and Rafael Gonzales of Gould & Lamb for “PBM & Controlling Opiates,” starting at 9:30 a.m. on June 19. Panelists will examine growing pharmacy costs and strategies to mitigate their impact. They will discuss how self-insuring employers can best use a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), analytics and techniques for working with prescribing physicians to control pharmacy utilization and costs in order to manage claims and prepare a reasonable projection for settlement and Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) calculations. Continue reading →

Hawaii Rx Drug Summit Examines the State’s Prescription Drug Problem

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HONOLULU (May 15, 2013)― The Hawaii Rx Drug Summit 2013 focuses on impact of prescription drug abuse, particularly of narcotics, on patients, businesses and society.   Assembling stakeholders from government agencies, the medical community, law enforcement, and insurance industry, the summit examines prescription drug trends, cost drivers, and the dangers of using long-term opioids for chronic pain management, including addiction, overdose and death.

Nationally recognized managed care expert Joseph Paduda examines the practice of physician dispensing of marked-up repackaged drugs.

“Some doctors make a lot of money charging a lot more for drugs dispensed in their offices than in retail pharmacies,” Paduda said.  “Hawaii ranks 24 in the nation for the number of Hydrocodone prescriptions sold in doctor’s offices, but only 43 when Hydrocodone is sold in a retail pharmacy.  Could there be a perverse incentive for dispensing doctors to prescribe this addictive pain killer so much more often?”  Continue reading →