Paul Kauffman of Accident Fund to Present on Identifying Risky Opioid Prescribing Patterns at 99th Annual International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions Conference

LANSING, Mich., Sept.12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Kauffman, director of Medical Operations Claims for Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, will be speaking at the 99^th Annual International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions (IAIABC) Conference on October 2, 2013.

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The recent shift in prescribing patterns to more patients consuming Schedule II narcotics is more prevalent today than ever before.  Opioid medications are now being prescribed at higher dosages and are routinely making their way into the hands of injured workers without the proper controls, regardless of the health risks.  Escalating problems such as overdose, addiction, and even death have reached epidemic proportions, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and are now commonly reported in association with workers' compensation claims with 55-85 percent of injured workers across the country receiving narcotics for chronic pain relief.

Accident Fund has been monitoring the use of opioids to manage chronic pain for many years.  The results of a study the company completed in 2011 with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, have validated the scope of this problem.

Recognizing a need to identify policy options and possible regulatory solutions to address this complex problem, the IAIABC recently developed a policy guide on this issue.  "Reducing Inappropriate Opioid Use in Treatment of Injured Workers:  A Policy Guide," which cites the study Accident Fund conducted with Johns Hopkins, is meant to be used by policymakers and administrators who are interested in implementing policy solutions to reduce inappropriate use of opioids in the workers' compensation insurance system.

Many organizations, including Accident Fund, have already begun proactively addressing inappropriate opioid use in the treatment of work-related injuries.  During an informative session offered at this conference, entitled, "Identifying Risky Opioid Prescribing Patterns," current research and success stories will be discussed in an effort to give organizations new tools to combat this epidemic.

Held at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, 910 Broadway Circle., in San Diego, Calif., the event takes place September 30 – October 3, 2013.  The IAIABC Annual Conference is the premier conference for workers' compensation professionals looking to learn more about current policy, regulatory, and administrative challenges in the industry.  For more information about this conference, visit www.iaiabc.org.  

For more information about Accident Fund, visit www.accidentfundholdings.com.

Accident Fund Insurance Company of America
Accident Fund Insurance Company of America has provided workers' compensation insurance coverage since 1912. As the WorkSafe People™ and a leading provider of workers' compensation coverage across the United States, we partner with independent agents to provide small to mid-size businesses with exceptional claims expertise, unrivaled loss control services and extensive online safety resources and training.  Accident Fund is licensed in 50 states and partners with independent agencies in 18 core states, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Our proven business model reflects the following strategic components:

• An efficient agency portal that provides minimal input and maximum effectiveness for the distribution force
• Leading-edge predictive analytics
• Best-in-class claims handling with innovative medical management processes
• Superior analysis of economic, financial and medical trends that provide keen market insight

Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is a member of Accident Fund Holdings, Inc.  Accident Fund Holdings and its subsidiaries are one of the largest workers' compensation insurers in the United States and rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

SOURCE Accident Fund Insurance Company of America