San Diego, CA – WCF Mutual Insurance Company and Mitchell recently published a study about the use of opioids by injured workers in workers’ compensation claims in Utah. The results of the study are especially significant for Utah, a state that ranked seventh in drug poisoning deaths between 2013 and 2015 and has been in… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
WCRI Webinar to Cover Latest Research on Fee Schedules and Medical Prices
Cambridge, MA – WCRI recently announced a new webinar where the various design choices of fee schedule regulations and their impact on variation in medical prices and payments across state workers’ compensation systems will be discussed during a one-hour session on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. ET. “Those who attend this webinar will… [Read more]
NASI: Workers’ Compensation Coverage Increases But Benefits Decline Nationally
Washington, DC – Benefits paid to injured workers continued to decline, while covered employment and wages continued to rise, according to data in the new Workers’ Compensation Benefits, Costs, and Coverage (2017 Data) report. Produced annually by the National Academy of Social Insurance, the report provides the only comprehensive data on workers’ compensation benefits, coverage,… [Read more]
IAIABC Recognizes Workers’ Compensation Leaders with President’s Awards
Middleton, WI – IAIABC then-President, Abbie S. Hudgens, Administrator of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, recently recognized five individuals and one organization for their service to the IAIABC and the workers’ compensation industry at the IAIABC 105th Convention. The President’s Awards honor those who demonstrate commitment and achievement in reducing harm and aiding recovery… [Read more]
WCRI Study Examines Impact of Reforms on New York Workers’ Comp System
Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently released a new report for system stakeholders to track the performance of the New York workers’ compensation benefit delivery system. “Originally established to monitor the system following reforms in 2007, the report has evolved into a tool for tracking key metrics of system performance on… [Read more]
CWCI Study Shows 94.1% Approval Rate for CA Workers’ Comp Treatment Services
Oakland, CA – A new California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) study shows that following the adoption of recent changes that streamline the California workers’ compensation medical review and approval process, 94.1% of medical services performed or requested for California injured workers were either approved (92.5%) or approved with modifications (1.6%). The study measures medical service… [Read more]
NCCI Releases Q3 2019 Quarterly Economics Briefing
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently announced the release of the Q3 2019 edition of its Quarterly Economics Briefing, which examines the current state of the economy and implications for workers compensation insurance, and is separated into sections: “Economic Outlook”, “Drilling Down”, and the all new “Medical Outlook” Economic Outlook Key takeaways include: Real GDP… [Read more]
TDI-DWC Research & Evaluation Group Releases 2019 Formulary Update
Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) first implemented a pharmacy closed formulary to manage drug prescriptions to injured employees in 2011. The closed pharmacy formulary includes all FDA-approved drugs, except investigational and experimental drugs. It excludes drugs listed as N-drugs (or “not recommended” drugs) and compounded drugs. The… [Read more]
New WCRI Studies Examine Payments, Prices, and Utilization of Medical Care in 18 States
Cambridge, MA – The factors behind trends in medical payments per claim in state workers’ compensation systems and the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on those costs are examined in a new set of studies released by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The studies, CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 20th Edition, examine trends in payments,… [Read more]
NCCI Releases New Industry Roundtable on WC Industry Transformation and Disruption
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recentlhy released a new issue of its Industry Roundtable, where president and CEO Bill Donnell engages with workers compensation leaders on critical issues and trends impacting the industry today and in the future. In this installment, Donnell speaks with Phil Kalin about industry transformation and disruption. Kalin is the president… [Read more]