A loophole in Illinois’ workers’ compensation system is allegedly being used by Illinois physicians for personal gain. The system allows for a process called ‘physician dispensing’, which allows Illinois doctors to prescribe medicine to injured workers, as well as sell it for profit.
When given the right to profit by selling drugs, doctors prescribe 3.2 times the quantity of drugs they would prescribe normally, and sell the medicine at markups averaging between 60% and 300%. These findings might shed some light on why workers in Illinois spend as much as twice as long away from work after a workplace accident compared to workers in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The potential costs that come with this system are more worrisome than the hunger for profit, because over-prescribing pain relievers can have a life-threatening impact if the high dosage of drugs leads to addiction.
The attorneys at Spiros Law, P.C. in Champaign represent workers who struggle with receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Contact us at (217) 328-2828 to find out how we can legally assist you with your workers’ compensation claims.
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