State Fund Releases Second Free Physician Training Module To Curb Overprescribing of Opioids

<div class='html-Content' xmlns="https://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <div class='head-Content'> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title> State Fund Releases Second Free Physician Training Module To Curb Overprescribing of Opioids </title> <meta name="keywords" content="Laws, Regulations, 2015"> <meta name="description" content="State Fund Releases Second Free Physician Training Module To Curb Overprescribing of Opioids"> <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/stylesheets/mobile_styles.css"> <style type="text/css">  </style> <style type="text/css" media="handheld, only screen and (max-device-width: 480px)">  </style> <link href="/stylesheets/statefund_styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (min-width: 481px)"> </div> <div class='body-Content' id=""> <div class="topheader"><a href="/index.asp" name="home"><img src="/images/state_fund_logo.gif" alt="state fund logo" border="0" align="left"></a> <div class="offscreen"><img src="/images/offscreen_transparency.gif" alt="" width="250" height="20" align="center"></div> <ul id="accessibility" class="offscreen"> <li><a href="#skipnavigation" accesskey="0">Skip past navigation</a></li> <li><a href="#footer" accesskey="4">Skip to table of contents</a></li> </ul> <div class="offscreen"><img src="/images/offscreen_transparency.gif" alt="" width="250" height="20" align="center"></div> <div class="topheaderRight"> <div class="topnav"> <div class="topnavRight"><a href="/index.asp" accesskey="5">Home</a> | <a href="/contact/ContactUs.asp" tabindex="1">Contact us</a></div> <div class="topnavLeft"><a href="/employers/Index.asp" name="Employer">EMPLOYERS</a> | <a href="/broker/Index.asp" name="Broker">BROKERS</a> | <a href="/provider/Index.asp" name="Medical Provider">MEDICAL PROVIDERS</a> | <a href="/employees/Index.asp" name="Employee">EMPLOYEES</a> | <a href="/statecontracts/Index.asp" name="State Contracts">STATE AGENCIES</a></div> </div> <div class="topPhonenumber2"><a href="/CustomerSupport/Index.asp"><strong><font size="4px">Customer Support</font></strong></a><br>(888) 782-8338</div> <div class="topMission">Established in 1914 by the state legislature, State Fund is California's most reliable provider of workers' compensation insurance and a vital asset to California businesses. 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Collaborating with Quality HealthCare Concepts, State Fund has produced the online education modules. State Fund is the only workers’ compensation insurer who has developed this type of training to guide physicians on pain management and effective opioid prescribing methods.</p> <p>“Feedback from the first module was very positive,” said Dr. Dinesh Govindarao, State Fund’s Chief Medical Officer, who oversaw development of the training program. “Providers have reported that they are looking to change how they approach pain management, considering alternatives to opioids, and developing pain management agreements with their patients.” </p> <p>The first training program, “Acute Pain Management: Putting Use of Opioids in Proper Perspective,” was released in January 2015. Based on feedback from the providers who have reviewed the first module:</p> <ul type="disc"> <li>31 percent of physicians and nurse practitioners will focus on patient education or will implement pain management/opioid agreements</li> <li>29 percent will, or have already, decreased the amount of prescribed narcotics</li> <li>22 percent will focus on alternative treatment options</li> </ul> <p>Reducing opioid use is important to help control workers’ compensation costs. Thirty percent of State Fund prescription costs are for opioids, which is similar to industry statistics. Overuse of pain medication also delays an injured employee’s return to work or productivity.</p> <p>“State Fund should be commended for taking the lead in this important area by providing physician training regarding opioid prescribing practices,” said Roman Kownacki, M.D., MPH. FACOEM, Medical Director, Occupational Health – Northern California, Kaiser Permanente. “This training is valuable to all physicians, especially as we work together to improve outcomes for injured workers.”</p> <p>State Fund medical providers must complete both modules by April 30, 2015 in order to receive free Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses will receive CME credit through the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.</p> <p align="center"><em>###</em></p> <p><em>Established in 1914 by the state legislature State Fund has operated for 100 years, is California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance, and a vital asset to California businesses. 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