© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In Battle Against Opioid Epidemic, Connecticut Insurer Tries Early Intervention

Casey Fleser
/
Creative Commons

Physicians, patients, and drug manufacturers are often at the center of discussions about pain and opioid abuse. But what about insurance providers? One Connecticut company said it's found a way to better manage pain, while reducing the number of prescribed opioids. 

When someone gets hurt at work -- Adam Seidner said early intervention is key to managing their pain. "If, early on, we've taken care of that acute pain, which you want to do, you can keep people from going down into a chronic pain spiral," he said. "And, finally, the opioid usage."

Seidner is a doctor with Travelers Insurance. By analyzing five years of workplace injury claims, he helped develop a predictive model he said better treats patients suffering from certain types of pain. It's called the Early Severity Predictor.

The idea, Seidner said, is to more aggressively intervene in certain medical cases -- funneling select patients away from opioids and into things like physical therapy.

Seidner said it's reducing the need for opioids and aiding in patient recovery. "It's good for our clients -- the employers. It's good for the patient because the patient is back to work and productive," he said. "The sooner we can get them back to work they're whole again... and so their quality of life is much improved. It's better than being physically dependent on a narcotic."

Seidner said steering some patients away from opioids is good for Travelers, too. Last year the company applied the Early Severity Predictor to more than 20,000 workplace injury claims.

In some cases, Seidner said it reduced medical costs by up to 50 percent.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content