Cambridge, MA -(PRWeb)- As the cost of medical care for injured workers continues to grow, so does the burden on policymakers and other stakeholders to find a solution. To help them better understand what methods are implemented by different states to help contain costs, WCRI has released the latest update of its study, Workers’ Compensation Medical Cost Containment: A National Inventory, 2013.
“The study provides policymakers and system stakeholders with a basic understanding of what strategies have been adopted by which states and provides additional references for those who want more detail,” said Ramona Tanabe, author of the report and WCRI’s Deputy Director and Counsel.
Medical cost containment became a focus for many states in the early 1990s when the medical portion of the workers’ compensation benefit dollar began to grow more quickly than other claim costs. This led to growth in the adoption and variety of cost containment strategies during the 1990s.
This inventory includes tables of statutory provisions, administrative rules, and administrative procedures employed by 51 jurisdictions as of January 1, 2013. Medical cost containment strategies include price management methods, such as fee schedules and utilization management such as utilization review or medical networks.
These strategies aim to curb the cost of a particular service or to reduce the amount of services provided. Cost containment regulatory initiatives entail a balancing act of limiting the cost of services and inappropriate or unnecessary treatment without negatively affecting the quality of treatment or access to care for injured workers.
The 2013 edition includes new information about ability to settle costs of future medical care and whether there is a finite period of time for medical care.
For more information on this study or how to purchase it, click here: WCRI Workers’ Compensation Medical Cost Containment: A National Inventory, 2013.
Source: WCRI/PRWeb