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Your workers’ compensation and auto-related pharmacy questions answered.


Could Ozempic be a potential breakthrough in addiction treatment?
Addiction is a pervasive and challenging issue affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Conventional approaches to addiction treatment often include counseling, therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). However, recent research has sparked interest in the potential use of Ozempic (semaglutide), primarily prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes, as a novel treatment for addiction. This article will explore the emerging evidence and discuss the potential benefits and considerations for the use of Ozempic in the context of addiction treatment.

What are biological and biosimilar drugs?
It is likely you have heard the terms biological or biosimilar drugs and wondered, “what exactly does that mean?” Or you may have heard of many of these drugs not realizing they are biologicals or biosimilars. For instance, Humira, Enbrel and Stelara, if you watch any amount of television, it is likely you have seen a commercial for one of these and, yes, these are biological drugs. In this article we will discuss what biological and biosimilar drugs are, what makes them different from conventional drugs, and specific examples related to workers’ comp.

What implications does tobacco use have on medical treatment and the process of healing in workers’ compensation?
Tobacco use and smoking has wide-ranging implications for health and overall individual wellbeing, including the ability to negatively impact medical treatment outcomes and wound healing processes. In the context of workers’ compensation, where injured employees undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation, understanding the impact of tobacco use is of particular importance.

What's the difference between a drug allergy and a side effect?
True medication allergies are rarer than side effects, but are potentially more dangerous, and are a result of the activation and response of the body’s immune system to an “insult” or “foreign body.” Allergies occur across a range of severities, from mild to life-threatening, and often only occur on the second exposure to the drug, food or substance that triggers it.

When do drugs become generic?
When drugs are first introduced, they are made available as brand name only for differing lengths of time depending on the particular drug. Individuals often want to know when a generic will be released for the brand name medications to hopefully reduce the price of the medication.

How does aging affect drug performance?
Understanding of age-altered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes can assist in medication selection, as well as dosing adjustments for older patients that can avoid unexpected medication reactions and effects.
Meet Our Pharmacists
Meet the Pharmacy Solutions Experts

Mitchell Freeman, Pharm. D.
Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Mitchell Pharmacy Solutions

Nikki Wilson, Pharm. D./MBA
Senior Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services, Mitchell Pharmacy Solutions

Cameron Hannum, Pharm. D.
Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Mitchell Pharmacy Solutions
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Enabling adjusters and case managers to make educated decisions about drug therapy is a priority.
Our answer: Ask The Pharmacist. Just send an email by clicking the button below and our clinical team will attempt to answer your pressing questions about specific claims and offer clinical expertise to help you make decisions regarding drug-related issues.
workers' comp Pharmacy 101
Basics of Workers' Compensation Pharmacy Benefit Management
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Article Archive
Explore our collection of past articles.
- Why would someone be prescribed an opioid to treat opioid addiction?
- Are there cardiovascular considerations related to common medications used in workers' comp?
- How are Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs used when managing or prescribing opioid medications?
- How are seizure drugs used for pain management in workers' comp?
- Are there rules or recommendations for traveling with a controlled substance?
- Are there rules or recommendations for opioid disposal?
- Are there times when it’s better to dispense a brand drug instead of its generic equivalent?