Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features NCCI’s release of a new Insights Brief that provides an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical treatments in workers’ comp through Q3 2020.
The report is part of NCCI’s broader efforts to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workers’ comp system. Key observations included that active claim volume in 3Q20 was below 2019 levels, especially for new claims; physician service intensity appeared to be reverting toward 2019 levels; there remained no meaningful delays in time to initial treatment in 2020; telemedicine utilization took a step back in 3Q20, but remained significantly above 2019 benchmarks; and drug share of medical costs and utilization of opioids changed direction in 3Q20, reversing previous increases.