On Monday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that his administration had released opioid prescribing guidelines for workers’ compensation. According to Wolf, the guidelines will help health providers determine whether opioids are appropriate
Pennsylvania is one of the states with the highest number of injured workers who are long-term opioid users. It is also among the states with the highest rate of drug overdose deaths.
In a statement, Wolf noted that more than 17,000 workers’ compensation applications were submitted in Pennsylvania. According to him, the state ranks third highest in the country when it comes to number of long-term opioid users.
On the other hand, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the opioid prescribing guidelines will “supplement, not replace clinical judgment.”
“These prescribing guidelines add to the 10 others we have developed for health care practitioners like dentists, OB/GYN and emergency room physicians,” Levine said. “We are constantly reviewing and updating these guidelines as medical research and evidence move the science forward.”
