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Members absent:
Reed Pollack
Andrea Trimble Hart
Robert Meisterling, M.D., was introduced as a new member of the Medical Services
Review Board (MSRB) as a physician alternate. MSRB members, department staff
members and the visitors introduced themselves.
With no quorum present, the approval of the minutes, review of the comments received
about the draft rules and voting on the department’s recommendations were tabled. The
informational portions of the meeting were presented.
Patricia Todd said the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) has a bill this
session, but that discussions were ongoing and she was not sure whether it would pass.
Todd noted the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) had several meetings about its
pay-for-performance initiative with the stakeholders in the workers’ compensation
system. DLI will review the proposals that resulted from that input and will discuss it
This information can be provided to you in alternative formats (Braille, large print or audio tape).
with relevant constituent groups. There was no timetable for the project. Todd will update
the MSRB at a later meeting.
Julie Marquardt, medical policy specialist, reviewed the provider discipline report placed
in members’ packets. Upon the receipt of a compliant, DLI will investigate and attempt to
resolve it between the parties involved. If the parties cannot negotiate a settlement, an
administrative law judge makes a recommendation to the MSRB for a decision.
Marquardt noted DLI is proactive in resolving these complaints early, which is working.
A visitor at the meeting suggested a pharmacist should serve on the MSRB. Lohman
pointed out that the membership of the MSRB is set by statute. The board gets input from
pharmacists when needed.
Lohman noted DLI was contacted by representatives from Medtronic who submitted
materials recommending changes to the treatment parameters concerning spinal
stimulators and morphine pumps. DLI is conducting an evaluation of the medical
literature regarding these devices and hopes to present that review at the next meeting.
Quorum
Charles Hipp made a motion to approve the minutes from the Nov. 9, 2006, meeting as
presented. Barbara Baum seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion and it
passed.
Baum made a motion to have Lohman run this portion of the meeting. Hipp seconded
the motion. All voted in favor of the motion and it passed.
Lohman distributed copies of the comments DLI received about the five draft rules to the
members. He also distributed tables for each rule that excerpted all of the comments
received regarding that rule and arranged them with reference to rule provisions. The
tables also contained a department recommendation in response to each comment.
Lohman asked the MSRB to suspend the meeting rules of order and consider each of the
recommendations as a motion made and seconded, ready for discussion and vote. In the
case of a vote against a recommendation, members could propose an alternative or table
the issue for further discussion at a later date.
Medical Services Review Board -3- April 19, 2007
Minutes
Baum made a motion to suspend the meeting rules of order and to adopt the method
proposed by Lohman. Rose Hatmaker seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the
motion and is passed.
Lohman then proceeded to review the comments and the department’s recommendations.
The actions taken by the MSRB on each comment are recorded in the tables attached to
these minutes.
All of the department’s recommendations were approved with the following exception.
¾ The board voted to table further discussion of the application of the rules regarding
long-term use of opioid analgesics in cases where the treating health care provider has
been prescribing opiates for more than three months but has not indicated an intention
of prescribing them indefinitely (proposed MR 5221.6600 subpart 3 (2)). The board
asked for further information and will take up this issue at its next meeting.
¾ change the word “physician” to “health care provider” wherever it appears in the
rules regarding NSAIDs, muscle relaxers and narcotic analgesics;
¾ develop a definition of “medical contraindication” for review at the next MSRB
meeting; and
¾ determine if the chiropractic practice of recommending OTC analgesics has any
implications for these rules and report back to the board at its next meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Caswell
Executive Secretary
dc:s
MSRB meeting, April, 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for amendments to general parameters
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
l. 31 This item should note that if a patient is already taking No action this is already part of the rule at l. 35-38
aspirin then there is no advantage in using a COX-2
inhibitor
L.33 Change to “documented history” No action; this is already required in the rule
L. 33 Change “gastrointestinal disease” to “gastrointestinal bleed Change to “gastrointestinal bleed or gastrointestinal
or peptic ulcer disease” disease”
l. 34 Eliminate g.i. side-effects from non-selective NSAIDs as No action; evidence shows that this is a legitimate
an indication for COX-2 inhibitors indication for COX2 inhibitors
l. 37-38 Would the gastroprotective agent be covered by WC No action; this is an issue that needs to be decided on a
case-by-case basis
Changes recommended by the department
Frame the proposed rule as a subpart of a new treatment Approved
parameter with an introductory paragraph:
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for muscle relaxants
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for muscle relaxants
refills, and let the patient throw away what isn’t needed.
l. 24 Muscle relaxants should not be used for more than 4-6 No action; there is insufficient evidence to support this
weeks post injury recommendation
l. 25 One month’s worth of a muscle relaxant is inappropriate No action; there is insufficient evidence to support this
recommendation
l. 26 Muscle relaxants should only be used as needed in chronic No action; proposed rules would allow “as needed use”
conditions but would prohibit prolonged use (more than 3 months)
l. 26 This contradicts the evidence that long-term muscle No action; there is insufficient evidence to support this
relaxant treatment is effective recommendation
l. 29 The exclusion of benzodiazepines is short-sighted; they are Clarify that this rule only applies to the symptomatic relief
very effective in patients with spinal cord trauma of musculoskeletal pain
l. 29 The PDR says that benzodiazepines are effective muscle No action; evidence review shows that the benefits are
relaxants outweighed by the side-effects
Changes recommended by the department
Frame the proposed rule as a subpart of a new treatment Approved
parameter with an introductory paragraph:
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for muscle relaxants
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for narcotic analgesics
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for narcotic analgesics
l. 13 Who decides that the pain has been reduced by >50%? Clarify that this decision is made by the treating physician
l. 11-13 Eliminate “one-week” and “in reducing the patient’s pain No action; a 50% reduction is the consensus standard used
by at least 50%” in the medical literature to assess analgesic efficacy
l. 18 & 30 Change “indicated” to “authorized” No action; authorization is a payment concept; these rules
address appropriate treatment
l. 24 Two week prescriptions are more expensive than one No action; this is not medically appropriate
month prescriptions; allow one month prescriptions and
refills, and let the patient throw away what isn’t needed.
l. 24 & 26 Delete “worth” Accept
l. 27 Limiting narcotics to 3 consecutive months seems to go No action; the rule does not limit narcotics to 3
against accepted medical practice consecutive months; it merely references another set of
rules that deal with that situation.
l. 29 The PDR says that meperidine is an effective analgesic. No action; evidence review shows that the benefits are
outweighed by the side-effects
l. 32-33 Delete item D; transcutaneous administration is very No action; there is no evidence that these delivery systems
effective at minimizing side-effects and providing a stable are more effective or safer than oral dosing in patients
blood level. with normal gastrointestinal absorption
l. 32-33 The treating physician should be able to use patches if they No action; there is no evidence that these delivery systems
are considered more effective. are more effective or safer than oral dosing in patients
with normal gastrointestinal absorption
Add a new part addressing trans-mucosal drugs such as Add a new item restricting the use of oral transmucosal or
Actiq and Fentora: they have no indications in treating buccal preparations to the treatment of breakthrough pain
workers’ compensation patients in patients with a documented disorder that prevents the
use swallowed medication.
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for narcotic analgesics
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for long-term use of opioids
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for long-term use of opioids
p.1, Delete; none of these are contraindications to treatment. No action – these are only POTENTIAL problems that
l. 37 - 45 should be considered by the treating physician prior to
starting long-term opioid treatment
p. 1, This would eliminate all women between the ages of 18- No action recommended – this is only POTENTIAL
l. 39 55. problems that should be considered by the treating
physician prior to starting long-term opioid treatment
p. 1, Does this require the treating physician to do lengthy Clarify that this is determined by the treating physician
l. 46 evaluations and reports? and the decision documented in the medical record
p. 2, This eliminates the treating physician’s discretion and No action recommended; it is standard medical practice to
l. 1 places the decision in the hands of a consultant with less solicit a consultant’s opinion regarding care in
knowledge of the patient. complicated cases.
p. 2, This is an unreasonable burden. Tabled for further discussion
l. 13-45
p. 2, Limiting prescriptions to 7 days is more costly than 30 day No action; rules do not limit the prescriptions to 7 days but
l. 20 prescriptions. to multiples of 7 days.
p. 2, This restricts the patient to a “Hobson’s” choice. Clarify that this is not meant to restrict the patient’s access
l. 22 to other modalities of treatment that are otherwise allowed
p. 2, This unnecessarily restricts the physician’s discretion and No action; the physician has complete discretion in
l. 27 will lead to more ER visits developing a plan to handle these situations
p.2, This will require documentation and if it is missing the No action; the rule only requires that the physician
l. 34 insurer will deny treatment documents that the discussion took place; this is similar to
current procedures used in documenting consent to
treatment.
p.2, Require the proxy designation in writing Clarify where the name of the proxy will be documented.
l. 39
p. 2, Allow an alternative pharmacy in emergencies if approved Accept; some departure is needed to address unusual
l 41-2 by the treating physician or proxy circumstances
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for long-term use of opioids
p. 2, This will require lengthy and burdensome documentation No action; the rule only requires that the physician
l. 44 thus increasing costs. documents that issue was considered; physicians treating
workers’ compensation patients are already required to
write work restrictions.
p. 2, The written agreement must allow the physician to depart No action; the treating physician and patient can enter into
l. 47 from the agreement whenever there are exigent a new agreement if the condition changes.
circumstances
p. 2, Item D should include random drug testing. No action; this is not part of the current medical standards
l. 47 for the use of long-term narcotics
P. 3, Require that the written agreement be given to the No action; this would create an unnecessary burden on
l.4 dispensing pharmacy. pharmacists
p. 3, This is completely unreasonable and assumes that an No action; the rules do not make this assumption but
l. 16 injured worker is lying. rather reflect current medical standards for the use of
long-term narcotics
p. 3, This is completely unreasonable and assumes that an No action; the rules do not make this assumption but
l. 18 injured worker is lying. rather reflect current medical standards for the use of
long-term narcotics
p. 3, This suggests that the provider wouldn’t do this anyway Remove language that might be considered vague-
l. 24-29 and since it is vaguely written it will give the insurer “actively monitor treatment” and “to be vigilant for signs
reasons to deny treatment. of addiction” – these requirements are spelled out
elsewhere
p. 3, Add “or distribution to others” No action; physicians already have obligations in this
l. 26 regard
p. 3, What if the provider terminates treatment and the patient No action – This is a liability issue and outside of the
l. 27-29 goes and gets narcotics from someone else, does the authority of the TxParam.
insurer have to pay?
p. 3, What if the provider terminates treatment and the patient No action – This is a liability issue and outside of the
l. 27-29 has become dependent on the narcotics and medically- authority of the TxParam.
monitored withdrawal is necessary, does the insurer have
to pay?
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MSRB meeting, April 19, 2007
Comments received and actions taken RE: proposed rules for long-term use of opioids
p. 3, Item E should include a requirement to report suspected No action; a provider’s obligations in this circumstance
l. 32 - diversion to the appropriate state agency. are governed by the licensing boards.
p. 3, Make follow-up monthly during the first year and no less No action; this would create an unnecessary burden
l. 37 than quarterly thereafter.
p. 4, Change to “Board-Certified Pain Medicine Specialist” No action; this could unnecessarily restrict access.
l. 7
Add a new section specifying what happens to a provider No action; rules already exist for provider discipline.
who violates these rules
Specify what an insurer can do if the rules are not followed No action; the insurer has the same options as they do for
any other dispute about treatment
Add a section that forbids the use of trans-mucosal drugs No action; defer this to the rules regarding choice of
opiate medications.
Changes recommended by the department
p. 1, Change “oral narcotic medications and to transdermal Approved
l. 16 narcotic” to “oral., oral transmucosal, buccal and
transcutaneous narcotic medications”
p. 1, Add language clarifying that the choice of narcotic Approved
l. 18 medication used is governed by the rules on narcotic
analgesics
p. 3, Change “at any time” to “if” Approved
l. 28
p. 3 Add language to allow a new agreement, superseding any Approved
previous agreement, whenever it is deemed medically
necessary by the treating provider.
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