Cambridge, MA, April 4, 2023―Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released a new report that gathers in one place the numerous state regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states, including workers with injuries.

“Many states are grappling with the appropriate prescription of controlled substances, using an array of different regulatory strategies, overseen by different agencies,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI’s executive vice president and counsel. “This report provides policymakers and system stakeholders with a basic understanding of the different strategies adopted by all states, and points to the regulations for those seeking more detail.”

The report, Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2023, also provides information on some of the most prominent prescription drug issues stakeholders are concerned about in 2023, such as the following:

• Workers’ compensation drug formularies
• Rules for limiting and monitoring opioid prescriptions
• Price regulations for pharmacy- and physician-dispensed drugs
• Expanded role for pharmacists in patient care
• Prescription drug monitoring programs
• Pharmacy benefit manager regulations
• Medical marijuana regulations

The tables in this report were compiled from completed surveys of two agencies for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since prescription drug regulations are changing rapidly in the United States, the information in this report is a snapshot in time, as of January 1, 2023. The report was authored by Karen Rothkin. Click here to to learn more about this inventory or to purchase a copy.

ABOUT WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Cambridge, MA. Organized in late 1983, the Institute does not take positions on the issues it researches; rather, it provides information obtained through studies and data collection efforts, which conform to recognized scientific methods. Objectivity is further ensured through rigorous, unbiased peer review procedures. WCRI's diverse membership includes employers; insurers; governmental entities; managed care companies; health care providers; insurance regulators; state labor organizations; and state administrative agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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