Topicals continue to climb in comp

The number of injured workers using topical medications rose 10.3% in 2022, according to a drug trends report released Wednesday by Enlyte LLC.

The increase was in line with a four-year trend of gradual increases in doctors prescribing topical creams and agents to workers, mostly for pain, according to the report, which was based on the workers compensation services provider’s own data.

The report said 126 of every 1,000 injured workers were prescribed topical analgesics to treat pain, up 7.6% from 2021.

It also pegged drug “compound kits” and “combo packs” as an area to watch. Such co-packaged drugs billed in one unit represent an area of rising costs in comp, with many prescriptions coming from out-of-network.

While representing less than 1% of all drugs prescribed to injured workers, such packs saw an 89.5% jump in costs in 2022.