Business Insurance: Creams cut pain, but price is the rub
Topical creams are becoming part of the mix of pain treatment options as doctors look for alternatives to addictive opioids.
Topical creams are becoming part of the mix of pain treatment options as doctors look for alternatives to addictive opioids.
Affordability seems to be the issue of the day, and the 2026 midterm elections will likely be decided on this perception. Housing, energy, food, insurance, health care and prescription drug costs are all pain points for businesses and consumers. Controlling prescription drug costs has been one area that has proven to be elusive for policy makers, notwithstanding some creative efforts.
Discover how large scale benchmarking helped drive 12.5x cost containment through smarter utilization management. See how data insights improved outcomes and reduced unnecessary spend.
While managing workers’ comp claims requires understanding the basics of physical therapy, achieving better claim outcomes can often hinge on how you influence when care starts, who delivers it and how closely progress is managed.
For claims professionals, 2026 marks a pivotal year for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Claims administration has shifted from an efficiency tool to a highly scrutinized regulatory topic. The legislative arena is a complex blend of uniform guidance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), prescriptive state laws and encouraging federal research initiatives. The core principle governing adoption of AI into claims administration is that AI must act as a support tool, and not the sole decision-maker.
Casualty and workers’ comp executives continue to face evolving economic, regulatory and claim challenges in 2026. Enlyte CEO Alex Sun discusses these issues and explains why P&C leaders who incorporate solutions based on disciplined execution, data and AI, are best equipped to protect margins and improve outcomes.
Pain management in workers’ compensation is continuing to shift as opioid prescribing declines and non-opioid alternatives gain traction. These changes reflect a growing emphasis on safety, function and evidence-based care, along with increased scrutiny of medication risk and cost. For adjusters, understanding these trends helps support safer recovery while managing claim complexity.