Researchers in California were the first to quantify how many Medicare set-asides had money earmarked for opioids — 70% of closed workers compensation claims in California include cash for future pain prescriptions, they found — but experts say the problem is a national issue.

“I start to think we are making progress and we are getting somewhere and opioid use in comp is down, and then you come across something like this,” said Alex Swedlow, president of the Oakland-based California Workers’ Compensation Institute. “It’s extremely frustrating.”

Continue reading: Opioid reserves in Medicare set-asides a nationwide problem