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  • HOW NORTHWOOD HELPS CURB OPIOID ABUSE

    The medical community is becoming increasingly aware of the potential hazards and dangers of opioid misuse and abuse. In prior years opioids have been rather freely dispensed to help combat pain but society as a whole is beginning to see the need to shift away from this model. Overdoses and opioid addictions seemingly have skyrocketed and have a drastic impact on those misusing them.

     

    As highlighted in a June 2017 article published by STAT, the number of prescriptions for opioid drugs tripled from 1991 to 2011.The article also continues on to report that the deaths of over 33 thousand people in the United States in 2015 were tied to opioids; this number is expected by many experts to continue to rise over the next several years. Opioids are predicted to be the cause of death for as many as 500 million United States citizens within the next ten-year period, according to this same article.

     

    The increasing occurrence of overdoses, complications and deaths related to opioid use is exceptionally tragic and it also takes a significant financial toll. This is why it’s critical that when opioids are prescribed within an automobile no-fault claim, insurance companies must be aware of not only the potential for increased costs but also the need to do what they can to help curb what has come to be known as the opioid epidemic.

     

    As an experienced third-party administrator (TPA) of auto no-fault claims, Northwood is striving to do even more to help curb opioid abuse. When insurance companies partner with Northwood as a TPA, it is standard practice that Northwood pre-authorizes all prescription services to determine they are injury related and appropriate for the claimant’s particular situation. While this by itself does help prevent potential opioid abuse, Northwood’s system of checks and balances takes this a step further.

     

    In addition to its proven prescription pre-authorization process and claimant monitoring, Northwood developed a process for the insurance companies it partners with to further monitor and alert adjusters to possible opioid misuse by claimants. Many doctors now prescribe a lower supply of opioids to their patients, and Northwood monitors the frequency of refilled prescriptions. If an opioid prescription is filled too frequently, the refill is blocked until Northwood communicates with the adjuster assigned to the claim to determine if the refill is valid and necessary. This proactive communication is initiated quickly, oftentimes within hours, so that if the refill is valid the claimant does not experience lengthy delays in accessing the medication he or she needs.

     

    Northwood takes this epidemic and its responsibility to its claimants seriously and it is critical that your insurance company does the same. Please call Rosanne Brugnoni at 586-755-3830 ext. 3771 for a personalized look at how partnering with Northwood will help your company curb opioid abuse for your claimants and prevent your claims costs from rising due to this epidemic.

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