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Small volume, big cost impact from psychotherapeutic, neurological drugs - Business Insurance Skip to content Register for free Search Search Log In Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Small volume, big cost impact from psychotherapeutic, neurological drugs by Louise Esola Workers Comp Coverage Feb 6, 2026 Psychotherapeutic and neurological drugs make up less than one-third of one percent of all prescriptions dispensed to injured workers in California, yet they are now among the 10 most expensive drug groups in the state’s workers compensation system, according to a study released Thursday by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. Analyzing prescription data from 2015 through 2024, CWCI found that these drugs consistently accounted for just 0.2% to 0.3% of all workers compensation prescriptions. However, their share of total pharmacy spending increased nearly fivefold over the decade, rising from 0.7% in 2015 to 3.4% in 2024. The increase was driven largely by the use of high-priced brand medications. Five drugs represented 92.9% of all psychotherapeutic and neurological prescriptions dispensed to injured workers in 2024 and roughly 60% of the payments within the drug group: memantine HCl (Namenda), donepezil HCl, gabapentin enacarbil ER (Horizant), once-daily gabapentin (Gralise), and dextromethorphan HBr/quinidine sulfate (Nuedexta). Among them, Nuedexta emerged as the primary cost driver. Its share of prescriptions in the category grew from 8.6% in 2015 to 35.9% in 2024, while the average payment per prescription doubled from $659 to $1,317. As a result, Nuedexta’s share of total spending within the drug group rose from 13.9% to 41.2%. CWCI noted that diagnosis and body-part codes associated with some of these prescriptions suggest potential off-label use not aligned with FDA-approved indications or California’s Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule guidelines. Related News Uber ordered to pay $8.5 million in trial over driver sex assault claims February 6, 2026 The BI Top 10 for the week of Feb. 2, 2026 February 6, 2026 Illinois bill ties business licensing to comp February 6, 2026 London insurance growth outpaces talent pipeline: LMG February 6, 2026 Police question CEO over massive data leak February 6, 2026 Legislation in Spain, Greece aims to rein in social media February 6, 2026 Zurich-Beazley deal could accelerate cyber consolidation February 6, 2026 Hannover Re’s net income hits $3.6B February 6, 2026 QBE upgrades directors and officers cover February 6, 2026 Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin-in Business Insurance is a singular, authoritative news and information source for executives focused upon risk management, risk transfer and risk financing. Never miss important news: Become a Business Insurance Online subscriber today Subscribe Now Information About Us Contact Advertise Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Copyright 2026. BUSINESS INSURANCE HOLDINGS Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
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