The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) published a report that collects the various regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states, including workers with injuries.
The report provides information on some of the most prominent prescription drug issues stakeholders are concerned about in 2026, such as:
- Workers’ comp drug formularies
- Rules for limiting and monitoring opioid prescriptions
- Price regulations for pharmacy- and physician-dispensed drugs
- Expanded role for pharmacists in patient care
- Prescription drug monitoring programs
- Pharmacy benefit manager regulations
- Medical marijuana regulations
According to the report, in the last three years there has been little change in opioid regulations or physician dispensing rules. However, there have been changes in state rules affecting all prescriptions, and some changes in federal efforts as well.
The report indicates that with the closure of hospitals and many primary care providers leaving the field, some states have expanded the scope of practice for pharmacists in some states, making it quicker or easier to visit pharmacists that providers. Some jurisdictions grant pharmacists authority through collaborative practice agreements with local physicians, while others certify pharmacists directly. In some states, pharmacists are able to diagnose, choose drugs, and dispense them for common conditions like sore throat. It is believed that insufficient access to care can delay return to work.
Workers’ comp stakeholders may want to explore how pharmacists could help workers manage comorbid conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
Although the report notes relatively few changes to workers’ compensation specific drug rules since 2023, it underscores that broader prescription drug regulations, often enacted outside the workers’ compensation system, can still have an impact on claims management, pharmacy programs, and provider behavior. State laws affecting pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers, formularies, and opioid prescribing frequently extend to workers’ compensation.
