Federal Employees Program

In June 2017, OWCP's Federal Employees Program implemented a policy applicable to newly prescribed opioids. As a result, all new opioid prescriptions lasting more than 60 days require form CA-27, Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), to be completed by the prescribing physician prior to the authorization of continued prescription of opioids.

We are now instituting a new supplemental policy to address long-term and/or high dose opioid usage. The Federal Employees Program’s Branch of Prescription Management will be examining factors such as the morphine-equivalent dose (MED) and the cumulative, continuous length of treatment in assessing the appropriate action to take in each case. Bulletin 18-04 (Opioid Prescribing Guidelines, Short-Term, Long-Term and High Dose Opioid Use) outlines these actions.

Please continue to consult our website under "Latest News," for additional updates on our policies, and read carefully any written communications you receive from us. The "Latest News" section on our website will provide additional details prior to implementation. Claimants and their representatives may register to receive periodic email updates regarding this topic, as well as general Federal Employees Program news, on the Claimant and Representative portal. News on billing can be found at the OWCP Web Bill Processing Portal, under "Latest Developments."

In addition, we encourage medical providers to sign up for the Federal Employees Program's email list to receive information about program policies impacting medical authorization.

See also: Prior news on FECA's opioid policy

June 18, 2018