Quantitative drug testing and monitoring can reduce utilization of high-risk medications in injured workers on chronic opioid therapy, according to a study presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 26th Annual Meeting and Expo (April 1-4; Tampa, Fla.). Laboratories can play an important role in addressing the national opioid abuse epidemic, as increased utilization of drug monitoring is proving it can improve outcomes both for patients and payers. Existing guidelines do call for periodic monitoring for prescription compliance, but noncompliance remains a substantial burden with fraud, addiction, and cost implications for both patients and payers. The current study evaluated clinical benefits for 100 injured workers enrolled in workers’ compensation service provider Progressive Medical/PMSI’s Drug Testing and Monitoring (DTM; March to April 2013) program. Enrollment was due to urine drug test results inconsistent with the drug regimen reported by the prescribing provider. Prescription transaction history and urine samples were evaluated during the 90-day period prior to enrollment in the DTM service, 90-days after enrollment, and six months post enrollment. Lab testing was performed by Millennium Laboratories (San Diego), which specializes in medication monitoring and pharmacogenomics testing. Liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry, which is becoming the gold standard for drug screening given […]