PRIUM’s Mark Pew and Healthcare Solutions’ Jim Andrews Examine the Texas Closed Formulary’s Effect on Opioid Prescriptions at National Comp Conference

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PRIUM, a workers’ compensation utilization review company focused on reducing the unnecessary use of prescription drugs, and Healthcare Solutions, a leading provider of cost management solutions covering a wide array of workers’ compensation medical services, including pharmacy benefit management services, joined forces to analyze the impact of the Texas Closed Formulary (TCF) on opioid use and mitigation. Mark Pew, senior vice president of business development for PRIUM and Jim Andrews, R.Ph., executive vice president of pharmacy services for Healthcare Solutions, present results on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 8:45 a.m. during the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference®.

Texas created a closed formulary, requiring physicians to seek authorization before prescribing certain classes of drugs. The session analyzes the number of these prescriptions written before and after the formulary’s implementation and projects the impact of Phase II of the formulary that includes older “legacy” claims. By Sept. 1, 2013 legacy claims must have medical necessity confirmed or be subject to the TCF preauthorization process. In addition, a review of mitigation strategies employed by other jurisdictions and the infrastructure suggested for successful programs will be discussed.

The conference takes place Nov. 7 through 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, please see www.wcconference.com/agenda_wc.html#os4.

About Healthcare Solutions

Healthcare Solutions, Inc. is the parent company of Cypress Care, ScripNet and Procura Management. Through its subsidiary companies, Healthcare Solutions delivers integrated medical cost management solutions to over 750 customers in workers’ compensation and auto/PIP markets. The company’s clinical- and technology-based services include pharmacy benefit management, specialty healthcare services, PPO networks, medical bill review, case management and Medicare Set-Aside services. Healthcare Solutions delivers demonstrated benefits and savings complemented by deep industry expertise. For more information, please visit www.healthcaresolutions.com.

ABOUT PRIUM

PRIUM is a URAC-accredited utilization review and medical cost management company focused on managing the use, abuse and cost of prescription drugs. Based in Duluth, Ga., PRIUM can be reached at 888-588-4964 or by visiting www.prium.net. For insight and commentary on medical management issues in workers’ compensation, please visit PRIUM’s blog at http://prium-evidencebased.blogspot.com.