logo

Call Now:

(312) 609-0400

24/7
Call Us for Free Consultation

Call Now: (312) 609-0400

Search
Close this search box.

Illinois Reformers Target "Repackaging" Epidemic

Prescription drugs in packaging and bottles with stethoscope

or fill out the Contact Form

Workplace injuries often lead to months or years of pain, and workers turn to medications like OxyContin or Percocet to manage long-term pain issues. Between 1997 and 2007, doctors increased opioid prescriptions by over 400 percent, leading the federal government to call prescription drug abuse a national concern.

Prescription drugs in packaging and bottles with stethoscope

Doctors stand at the center of the abuse scandal because Illinois and other states created perverse incentives for doctors to push pain medications on their patients in a process known as “repackaging”.

What Is Repackaging?

Under Illinois law, doctors may sell drugs to patients, without the use of a pharmacy. Eliminating the middle man allows doctors to take the profits the pharmacy would have gotten, which increases the doctor’s revenue substantially.

When doctors are allowed to sell directly to patients, the doctor has an incentive to sell more expensive options and increase the dosage. Studies show that doctors triple the quantity of the drugs they would normally prescribe, especially in the kinds of cases a Chicago work injury lawyer handles. Doctors know the company’s insurance company has deep pockets, and the insurer is less price sensitive than the patient.

Why Is Repackaging A Problem?

While repacking is an economic boon for doctors, it has serious negative consequences for workers and employers.

Workers who take opiods spend up to 85 percent more time away from their job after pursuing a workers compensation case with a Chicago work injury lawyer than workers who avoid pain medications. Opiods are highly addictive, leading to long-term health risks for workers, including death by overdose.

Employers bear the burden of increased medical costs, and lost productivity from the injured worker. Estimates show employers spend close to an additional $25,000 on workers taking opiods because of the lost work time.

What Is The Solution?

Texas and Florida are leading the way in repackaging reform. Florida’s new laws allow doctors to prescribe strong opiods in workers compensation cases, but the prescription must be filled at a pharmacy. Temporary or weak doses of opiods may be distributed by the doctor to the patient directly. The result was a sharp decrease in opiod prescriptions. Texas banned doctors from dispensing opiods altogether, except in extremely rural areas where pharmacies are not readily available.

Illinois must continue to address the problem of repacking in the cases a Chicago work injury lawyer pursues, and close exploitable loopholes that allow doctors to profit under new regulations.

Share This Article

As the founder of the firm, Neal has devoted his life to working for the worker. His achievements are numerous and beyond reproach. He is most proud of his work in helping clients obtain valuable benefits, such as a wheelchair ramp to his home or lifetime medical care.

or fill out the Contact Form

As the founder of the firm, Neal has devoted his life to working for the worker. His achievements are numerous and beyond reproach. He is most proud of his work in helping clients obtain valuable benefits, such as a wheelchair ramp to his home or lifetime medical care.

Related Articles

Construction worker has an accident while working on new house. Most common workplace injuries
Workers' Compensation

10 Most Common Workplace Injuries in Chicago, Illinois

Workplace injuries occur daily in nearly all types of jobs. Some workplace injuries are minor and heal within a short time. Others are severe and life-threatening, leaving the injured worker with permanent disabilities, emotional trauma, and financial difficulties. Most workplace injuries can be prevented by prioritizing safety. Unfortunately, a 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report shows that 102,000 and 22,700 non-fatal work injuries and illnesses occurred in Illinois private and public industries respectively.

Businessman suffering from wrist pain in office. Workers' comp nerve damage settlement
Workers' Compensation

How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Nerve Damage Settlement?

You may need to know the value of a workers’ comp nerve damage settlement if you or a loved one suffered a work-related injury that caused nerve damage. It is hard to determine the actual amount of a workers’ comp nerve damage settlement in Chicago, Illinois, because each case is unique. Consequently, each settlement may vary depending on the specifics of your case.

Doctor helping manual worker with an arm injury at the metal industry factory. Indirect costs for workplace accidents
Workers' Compensation

What Are the Indirect Costs for Workplace Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?

The indirect costs for workplace accidents in Chicago, Illinois, are uninsured and unbudgeted expenses, including productivity loss and downtime. Other examples include increased insurance premiums, damage to the company’s reputation, and loss of employee morale.

Get a FREE Consultation:
We want to earn your business.

    Lawyers logos
    Lawyers logos