The use and price of compounded medications in workers compensation has climbed sharply, prompting concerns about controlling prescription costs for comp claims and managing safety for injured workers.
Utilization of these medications in workers comp increased nearly fourfold in the past several years, while pricing spiked nearly 30% in 2013 compared with 2012, recent studies show.
Although compounds represent only 1% to 3% of drugs prescribed for workers comp patients, experts say they're keeping an eye on such medications due to the skyrocketing prices — sometimes up to $2,000 for a month's supply — and worries that compounds may be produced with inconsistent or incorrect doses.
“I've seen … compound bills come across our network that have been in the tens of thousands,” said Donald Lipsy, pharmacy benefits management communications and regulatory manager at Coventry Workers' Comp Services in .
“Without consistent protocols to prepare each drug, compounded drugs can have a greater batch-to-batch variability. This poses significant safety concerns as injured workers could be receiving medication with a higher potency than intended,” Sarah Randolph, St. Louis-based clinical account executive at pharmacy benefit manager ., said in a statement to Business Insurance.
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Utilization of these medications in workers comp increased nearly fourfold in the past several years, while pricing spiked nearly 30% in 2013 compared with 2012, recent studies show.
Although compounds represent only 1% to 3% of drugs prescribed for workers comp patients, experts say they're keeping an eye on such medications due to the skyrocketing prices — sometimes up to $2,000 for a month's supply — and worries that compounds may be produced with inconsistent or incorrect doses.
“I've seen … compound bills come across our network that have been in the tens of thousands,” said Donald Lipsy, pharmacy benefits management communications and regulatory manager at Coventry Workers' Comp Services in .
“Without consistent protocols to prepare each drug, compounded drugs can have a greater batch-to-batch variability. This poses significant safety concerns as injured workers could be receiving medication with a higher potency than intended,” Sarah Randolph, St. Louis-based clinical account executive at pharmacy benefit manager ., said in a statement to Business Insurance.
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