Cambridge, MA – the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released three new state reports that compare outcomes of injured workers in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee with outcomes in 12 other states. The outcomes examined include recovery of physical health and functioning, return to work, earnings recovery, access to medical care, and satisfaction with medical care.
“By examining outcomes of injured workers, policymakers and other stakeholders can better understand how different state workers’ compensation systems compare in order to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve system performance,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI’s executive vice president and counsel.
The research, Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers, 2017 Interviews, is a product of an ongoing, multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the outcomes of medical care achieved by injured workers in a growing number of states. In addition to the 3 states with worker surveys in 2017, the studies include interviews previously conducted in 12 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin).
Below is a sample of findings from each of the three state studies that compare outcomes across 15 states.
- Minnesota: Minnesota had a somewhat lower percentage of workers than in other states who said that they were “very dissatisfied” with their overall workers’ compensation medical care (13 percent).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania had a lower percentage of workers than in other states who said they had “big problems” getting the services they or their provider wanted (12 percent).
- Tennessee: Thirteen percent of Tennessee workers said they did not return to work for at least a month after their injury, which was similar to injured workers in other study states.
The studies were authored by WCRI’s Dr. Bogdan Savych and Dr. Vennela Thumula.
Learn more or purchase copies: WCRI: Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers, 2017 Interviews
Source: WCRI