Narcotics usage, price rising in workers comp: NCCI

The cost of narcotic painkillers in workers compensation claims has grown in the past several years as more injured workers have received prescriptions for such medications, NCCI Holdings Inc. said in a study. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based rating and research agency said Tuesday that narcotics accounted for $35 of the average workers comp medical claim paid in 2009, the latest data available. That is up 14% from 2008. Despite the increase in costs, narcotics accounted for about 21% of total drug spending in workers comp for 2009, which NCCI said has remained mostly stable during the past decade.