Jonathan Ferguson's Colleagues at Truusight Health
Jonathan Ferguson's Contact Details
Charlotte,North Carolina,United States
Truusight Health
Jonathan Ferguson's Company Details
The nation is facing the worst health crisis it has seen in decades with a total of 130 Americans dying each day from an opioid overdose. Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic in one crisis that doesn't discriminate. It has impacted people across all ages, socioeconomic classes, races and religions. For most, it has become a regular occurence to hear of a friend, family member, classmate or co-worker who is suffering from the effects of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). What many fail to realize is opioid dependency can set in after 72 hours of use.For employers, this creates a unique set of problems and costs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, employers are spending nearly nine times more to treat opioid addiction than they did 12 years ago - from $300M in 2004 to $2.6B in 2016. The National Business Group on Health has found that:Employees with opioid abuse accounted for 64.5% and 90.1% of excess medically related absenteeism and disability costs, while caregivers contributed the remaining 35.5% and 9.9%, respectively.Nearly one out of every three (32 percent) opioid prescriptions filled through an employer-sponsored health plan has been linked to abuse.Opioid abusers cost employers nearly twice as much ($19,450) in annual medical expenses on average annually as non-abusers ($10,853).Along with medical costs, opioid addiction and treatment also impacts productivity, absenteeism and recruiting.Many employers have also seen an increase in workplace accidents resulting in high worker's compensation claims and rates. Certain industries, including those with more physically demanding jobs, have had higher rates of opioid abuse. For every employer, union and health plan, safety and productivity matter and has a direct impact on the bottom line. Real solutions require a multifaceted approach focusing on reducing risk and costs while achieving greater health outcomes. Truusight is here to help.