A new report says workers’ compensation pharmacy costscontinue to increase despite the steady decline of injury rates over the pastseveral years. The report comes from PMSI, a Tampa-based provider of specialtyproducts and services for the workers’ compensation market. The report showspharmacy costs increased by 5.4 percent in 2008, and 3.3 percent in 2007.

Pharmacy costs represent 14 percent of all medical spending.The 2008 increase was primarily due to average wholesale price increases aswell as reduced availability for generic versions of drugs such as Oxycontin.

The five most prescribed drug types were narcoticanalgesics, anticonvulsants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, skeletalmuscle relaxants, and antidepressants. Those five classes represented 70percent of pharmacy costs and 74 percent of total transactions in 2008.

If you or someone you know has been injured on the jobplease contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick,PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.