Workers’ Compensation Claim Impacts: Drug Screening & Degenerative Changes
March 28, 2018, 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Samer R. Choksi, MD, MPH is a board-certified physician within the field of occupational medicine. He is seasoned, fair, and well-balanced in workers’ compensation litigation. Dr. Choksi’s expert opinion is regarded as one of the most qualified in the state. His training includes causation, that is, to determine if the medical problem from which a patient / employee is suffering is specifically related to the incident in question.
In 45 minutes, Dr. Choksi will discuss:
The Aging Workforce and Impact on Workers’ Compensation
For many employers, workers’ compensation claims are growing at a rate faster than most other costs. Claims for back injuries, knee injuries, stress and cumulative trauma disorder continue to increase as the proportion of aging workers grows. Addressing the challenge of meeting the needs of aging workers will not only decrease workers’ compensation claims, it can have a positive effect on both workplace safety and health care costs.
Drug Testing Review
As a qualified Medical Review Officer, Dr. Choksi has clinical experience in controlled substance abuse disorders including legitimate explanations for laboratory confirmed positives as well as issues related to adulterated, substituted and invalid specimens. He will share knowledge regarding the toxicology and pharmacology of illicit drugs and substances. Procedures in collection, chain of custody, reporting and record keeping protocols for specimens including interpretation, reporting & review of results.
Drug Testing Changes regarding DOT Changes effective January 1, 2018 and Apply to ALL DOT Agencies
The DOT amended its drug-testing program regulation. In response to the current opioid crisis, the DOT drug testing program will now include testing for expanded opiates. The new rule, among other items, added four semi-synthetic opioids (i.e., hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone). It also added methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) as an initial test analyte and removed the testing for methylenedioxyethylamphetaime (MDEA).
Speaker: Samer R. Choksi, MD, MPH
