Ask The Pharmacist: Tobacco’s Impact on Wound and Bone Healing in Workers’ Comp
July 3, 2023
4 MIN READTobacco use and smoking has wide-ranging implications for health and overall individual wellbeing, including the ability to negatively impact medical treatment outcomes and wound healing processes. In the context of workers’ compensation, where injured employees undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation, understanding the impact of tobacco use is of particular importance.
A Deeper Look at Utilizing Generic Drugs in Workers’ Comp
June 5, 2023
5 MIN READAccording to JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, during a ten-year period branded pharmaceutical products in the U.S. increased 159% by list price and 60% by net price. In a continued effort to combat rising drug costs workers’ comp pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) look to substitute equivalent generic drugs for these more costly brand versions whenever possible.
Ask The Pharmacist: Drug Allergies Versus Side Effects in Workers’ Comp
June 2, 2023
3 MIN READTrue medication allergies are rarer than side effects, but are potentially more dangerous, and are a result of the activation and response of the body’s immune system to an “insult” or “foreign body.” Allergies occur across a range of severities, from mild to life-threatening, and often only occur on the second exposure to the drug, food or substance that triggers it.
High-Cost Topical Pain Meds Continue to Plague Comp
June 1, 2023
Pegged as a problem by the workers compensation industry nearly a decade ago, dermatological creams are increasingly being prescribed at a disproportionate cost to manage soft-tissue injuries, acco
Ask The Pharmacist: Exploring Drug Market Exclusivity and Generic Availability
May 8, 2023
4 MIN READWhen drugs are first introduced, they are made available as brand name only for differing lengths of time depending on the particular drug. Individuals often want to know when a generic will be released for the brand name medications to hopefully reduce the price of the medication. To better understand this, it is important to first know the process behind bringing a new drug to market.
Ask The Pharmacist: Pharmacokinetic Changes that Occur in Older Adults
April 4, 2023
3 MIN READUnderstanding of age-altered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes can assist in medication selection, as well as dosing adjustments for older patients that can avoid unexpected medication reactions and effects.
Ask The Pharmacist: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use
March 2, 2023
3 MIN READMedication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a safe and cost-effective option for managing opioid addiction. This method is typically applied along with counseling and other support and involves the use of methadone or buprenorphine and sometimes naltrexone.