OBJECTIVES: The objective of this pilot study was to examine opioid analgesic (OA) use and patient reported outcomes (PRO) among opioid-dependent chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP) patients placed on buprenorphine therapy in the Functional Restoration and Pain Management (FRPM) program. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of administrative claims, medical records and responses to PRO questionnaires was conducted among Texas Workers Compensation (TWC) beneficiaries enrolled in the FRPM program. Prescription utilization patterns, pain severity and self-report PROs were assessed during a 3-month observation period. PRO measures included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment, McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Eligible patients were ≥18 years of age, opioid dependent, had a history of chronic pain medications, receiving buprenorphine therapy, and continuously enrolled in TWC benefit during the 3-month period. RESULTS: The mean age of eligible study participants (N=19) was 49.0 years ±7.6.  A majority of patients were male (58%), white (63%), had a depression comorbidity (79%) and chronic pain lumbar diagnosis (47%). Overall, patients enrolled in the study showed a significant reduction in OA medication utilization (p<0.01) at months 1 and 2-3 compared to baseline. For the PRO measures, a significant reduction in patient VAS pain scores was observed between baseline and month 1 (p=0.03), no increases in pain scores were observed at months 2-3. Significant decreases in MPQ-A (p<0.04) and BDI-II (p<0.01) scores were observed between baseline and months 1 and 2-3. No differences for BAI scores were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Though a pilot study, the results suggest that opioid dependent patients receiving buprenorphine therapy in the FRPM program has the potential of improving health outcomes of patients with chronic pain, while reducing their use of controlled medications.  A larger follow-up study is needed to validate and expand on these preliminary findings.