Article

Specialty Solutions Spotlight: Using Quality Physical Therapy First for Low Back Pain Helps Reduce Costs and Improves Outcomes

… Should an MRI be the first step in addressing work-related lower back pain injuries? The U.S. health care system wastes an estimated $750 billion annually, with $200 billion attributed to overuse or unnecessary services . In workers' compensation, physical therapy can account for up to 20% of medical costs, making it crucial to ensure appropriateness and quality …
Article

Specialty Solutions Spotlight: Cybersecurity Risks With Internet Connected Medical Devices

… most high-risk medical devices with internet connectivity. This conclusion was drawn based on an analysis of common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs). The assessment conducted by the … theft, fraud and other malicious acts.  After years of concerns regarding the vulnerability of an increasing number of internet-connected medical devices used in hospitals and health care … To make a referral for specialty solution services, call us today at 877.203.9899 or send an email to referrals@apricusinc.com . Resources: …
News Release

Mitchell Earns URAC Reaccreditation for Workers' Compensation Utilization Management

… which requires utilization review entities that modify or deny treatment requests to obtain an accreditation by an independent, nonprofit organization that establishes and monitors UR performance criteria. … by in meeting new value-based goals for population health. Mitchell's URAC accreditation shows an ability to abide by the gold standard when it comes to performing Workers' Compensation …
Article

Ask The Pharmacist: Understanding the Different Types of Drug Recalls

… to be notified, a task that can be undertaken by the dispensing pharmacy, the manufacturer or an external party. The urgency of the recall often determines whether replacements are offered. … If you have questions or concerns regarding drug recall information, please contact your Account Manager. Do you have a workers’ compensation or auto related pharmacy question? Send us an email at AskThePharmacist@enlyte.com . To read more Ask The Pharmacist articles, please visit …
News Release

Mitchell Announces Cloud-Based Glass Claims and Repair Management Solution

… GlassMate, it delivers innovative cloud and point-of-sale capabilities and is powered by an open ecosystem. This allows glass facilities and mobile repairers to leverage market-leading …
News Release

New York Adopts New Pharmacy Fee Schedule and Proposes New Draft of Drug Formulary Rule

… to pass through any rebates received to the employer or insurance carrier and to provide an annual accounting to the carrier or employer of those rebates. Carriers or self-insured …
News Release

Top 5 Benefits of Having Repair Procedures in Mitchell Cloud Estimating

… incorporating advanced structural engineering designed for occupant safety along with an abundance of technology aimed at occupant convenience and driver assistance. These … than in times past. The landscape of the collision repair industry has changed. Where once an understanding of basic repair concepts was sufficient, now vehicle-specific repair … creating a damage appraisal it is often times necessary to consult the repair procedures to account for all the necessary operations unique to the vehicle. In recognition of needs of this …
Article

Supporting Our Clients for 70 Years with Insurance Technology

… of the technology and trends that are not only changing the world we live in, but also having an impact on both insurers and collision repairers. Alex Sun Read part II of our 70th anniversary … interview. What technology and trends are you following that you anticipate will have an impact on the P&C industry? There are a number of big trends that are affecting the entire … having their claims handled, but also how companies themselves will operate. What trends are top-of-mind for you in auto physical damage? On the auto physical damage side, there are a number …
Article

Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights 2023 Year in Review

… repairable claims frequency at 1.97% in the United States and 2.86% in Canada. That represents an increase of more than 40% in both regions over the previous year. When compared to 2020, the … Volume 2023 Review In terms of claims severity, EVs continued to exceed automobiles with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Last year in the U.S., average repairable severity was … EVs were sold in the U.S. in 2023—representing 8.1% of the gross new vehicle sales volume with an anticipated U.S. market share of 10% in 2024. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, …
Article

Total Loss Trends: What You Can and Can’t Control

… for all of 2015. Along those lines, fully-baked market values are trending upward, showing an increase of about 1.5 percent compared to last September. While the average vehicle age for … Used Vehicle Value Index, which has been tracking used vehicle values since 1995, also shows an increase in wholesale values, although their results are less stirring at 1.7 percent when … are involved. Compare that to $138 for carriers that leverage build-sheet (which takes into account that build-sheet isn’t available across all makes yet). Market conditions may be driving …
Podcast

Discharge Planning - A Vital Component for RTW

… : Hospital discharge planning is an integral part of an injured employee’s recovery. Whether transferring to a different facility or home, without the appropriate care and support, numerous factors can complicate an injured employee’s return to work. To speak more on this, I have Nicole Usher, Sr. Director of … So, what are some of the problems that occur when an injured employee is released without proper discharge planning? …
Article

Functional Restoration Programs: What the Latest CWCI Study Reveals, and Why Oversight Matters

… significantly higher payments than conventional services, averaging $1,751 per code or an estimated $350 per hour of treatment. … Functional restoration programs remain an important option for select injured employees, particularly those with chronic pain and …
Article

Ask The Pharmacist: The Role of Topical Medications in Workers’ Compensation

… According to the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), these products now account for approximately 22% of total medication payments. Dermatological agents and NSAIDs continue to be top cost drivers, and both the number of injured employees using topical medications and the … Top 3 Topicals by Cost … the injury Utilize clinical decision support tools when available Topical medications can play an important role in pain management, but when used inappropriately or without evidence-based …
Article

Reclaim Control Over Specialty Costs

… a thoughtful, strategic approach. Based on data from internal calculations, these services now account for an astounding $6.4 billion annually in workers’ compensation medical spend, representing over 22% …   Apricus achieves an average of 36% savings on home health services and reduces claim costs by up to 30% through …
Blog

Is there a new concern related to Gabapentin use and serious breathing problems?

… opioids, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, or sedative-hypnotics) are cautioned regarding an increased risk for respiratory compromise and distress. 1  This new warning from the FDA is … conditions. There has recently been significant growth in prescription volumes, due in part to an unsatisfied need for safer, effective alternatives to opioid medications. GabaPs carry … added pain relief without added CNS-depressant properties. Please contact your First Script account manager or clinical pharmacist with any questions or concerns you may have regarding this …
Virtual Event

Work Comp: COVID-19 Effects and Lasting Impacts [Podcast]

… identify patients that might be at risk and to reach out proactively and offer mail order as an alternative to going into a pharmacy and perhaps being exposed to the virus.” … that are available. Especially in times like this, I feel like the case manager plays an extraordinarily important role in assisting the injured worker and navigating the healthcare …
Podcast

Getting OnBoard With New York's Regulatory Changes

… going to be more specific to the treatments being requested. So, the system allows us to be an active piece of this as far as logging in and completing our work within the portal, and not … of what it's going to look like and, based on that, we are crafting some materials for our account managers, clinical reviewers, and operational staff. And, as we learn more about the … with the current formulary portal, and we think it's going to be very similar. So, we have an advantage since we've been exposed to how New York is thinking about web‑based care. We also …
News Release

Mitchell and Car ADAS Solutions Team Up to Provide Enhanced Calibration Support

… the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and Collision Repair industries, and Car ADAS Solutions , an ADAS technology and services company, have joined forces to offer enhanced support for dynamic … Peeters, CEO and founder of Car ADAS Solutions. “Together with Mitchell, we help shops build an ADAS calibration business, thereby creating an entirely new profit center—one designed to service their repaired vehicles, as well as their …
Article

Moving claims forward during COVID-19 - Guidelines

… delay return to work. Armed with this one-of-a-kind guideline, our nurse case managers have an exceptional resource at their disposal to meet this crisis and ensure injured employees … For further questions on how Genex is moving your claims forward, contact your account manager. …
Article

StateWatch Early Spring 2017

… . The following top five leading causes of disabling injury in the workplace accounted for 63.8 percent of the … for chronic pain. If a carrier refuses to authorize, doctors will be able to request an expedited hearing from which a judge would issue a final decision within five days. … recently amended its lien and attorney fee disclosure form to include an eligibility declaration required by Senate … would create an uninsured employer fund financed by penalties assessed to employers operating without comp …
Article

StateWatch Early Spring 2017

… . The following top five leading causes of disabling injury in the workplace accounted for 63.8 percent of the … for chronic pain. If a carrier refuses to authorize, doctors will be able to request an expedited hearing from which a judge would issue a final decision within five days. … recently amended its lien and attorney fee disclosure form to include an eligibility declaration required by Senate … would create an uninsured employer fund financed by penalties assessed to employers operating without comp …
Article

Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights Q1 2025

… battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose to 3.12% in the U.S. and 4.48% in Canada. That is an increase of approximately 31% in the U.S. and Canada over Q1 2024 and 2% and 4% respectively … CAD for ICE automobiles (-$479 CAD/-8%*). Plugged-In Q1 2025 Parts Statistics By the Numbers Top North America BEV Markets Based on Repairable Claims Frequency Q1 2025 Top BEV Model Claims Frequency by Region Q1 2025 *Difference between Q1 2025 and Q4 2024. …
News Release

Genex Services' IME Program Earns URAC designation

… integrates hard data, clinical expertise, and rigorous quality analysis standards to deliver an easy-to-use, trustworthy IME process for customers and claimants to receive an accurate, defensible decision, every time. The URAC accreditation seal symbolizes that an organization is going beyond regulatory compliance in its IME operations to represent its … and disabled workers. Genex, a clinical management leader throughout North America, serves the top underwriters of workers' compensation, automobile, disability insurance, third-party …
Article

The Regulatory Rollercoaster: A High-Stakes Game of Collaboration and Adaptability

… for clear and consistent policies, we are helping to shape the regulatory changes that account for the needs of all stakeholders. Enlyte also provides subject matter expertise to … stronger than ever. The regulatory rollercoaster may be a test of resilience, but it is also an opportunity to redefine the future of managed care delivery. Buckle up—while the ride is just …
News Release

Enlyte Drug Trends Report Indicates Significant Drop of Opioid Use in Comp

… pharmacy management. Enlyte’s 2024 series reflects on trends clients experienced in 2023, with an overview of both in- and out-of-network prescriptions.  Among opioid categories, the report … in workers’ comp among therapeutic classes ranked by cost in 2023. Though eight of the top 10 therapeutic classes experienced increased costs per script — with two classes rising by … migraine medication classes at 14.7% and 10.2%, respectively, and both classes were among the top five therapeutic classes to experience brand average wholesale price increases in 2023, which …
Blog

2019 Recap

… shared 47 posts. We thought it fitting to cap off the end of the year, with a review of our top three most viewed posts. The Drug Trends Series posts were the big winners in 2019 with 82% … Egypt, France, Australia, Denmark, Ireland, and more. Read on to see some stats regarding our top three posts and our recommendations.  … 2nd most viewed post: Top 5 Opioid Medication Trends in 2018 … 3rd most viewed post: Investigating the Top Therapeutic Classes …
Article

Alternative Transitional Duty: A Win-Win for Employee, Employer and Community

… we don’t have light duty. We are heavy manufacturing type business." So, for them to pull an employee off an assembly line and recreate a job for them takes a lot of time and energy that, frankly, they … You know, if the employee’s normal commute time is 30 minutes, we can’t ask them to drive an hour to go to a non‑profit. So, we try to make that reasonable accommodation close to home. … for me? Are they just sending me off to work?” So, with that in mind how do you get employee buy-in to try the ATD program? …
Article

The Great Workplace Shakeup: Adapting Workers' Comp for the Remote Revolution

… 2021, according to analysis from the Harvard Business Review , this mass exodus was not simply an anomaly driven by the pandemic. Rather, it resulted from the convergence of five key factors … scrutinize claims more closely, as there is a greater area of ambiguity in determining whether an injury occurred within the scope of employment or in a personal capacity. Redefining … direct job responsibilities like commuting could plausibly contribute to injuries. Overall, an agile and thoughtful approach is prudent as any workplace evolves. Re-examining definitions …