Association, Rating & Research News

Oakland, CA – With the pandemic taking a toll on the California economy, statewide unemployment spiking to a record level, and workers comp claim volume on the decline, the number of independent medical reviews (IMRs) used to resolve California workers’ compensation medical disputes fell sharply in the first half of 2020 according to the latest… [Read more]

Oakland, CA – The average number of visits for Evaluation and Management (E&M) and Physical Medicine services in the California workers’ compensation system has continued to edge down since the enactment of SB 863 in 2012, but with the adoption of the RBRVS fee schedule, evidence-based medicine standards, mandatory Utilization Review and Independent Medical Review,… [Read more]

Downers Grove, IL – Coventry recently announced the release of part four its our workers’ compensation drug trends series, which takes a closer look at high impact drug classes. The report notes that categories such as topicals, compound kits, combo packs, and specialty medications represent proportionately low utilization. However, they can be associated with exponentially… [Read more]

Cambridge, MA – As an increasing number of workers with injuries are receiving physical therapy (PT), a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that for workers with low back pain (LBP) only injuries, early initiation of PT is associated with lower utilization and costs of medical services and shorter duration of… [Read more]

Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) recently announced a new free webinar where President and CEO John Ruser will discuss the delivery of medical care and return to work in the COVID-19 era. Dr. Ruser will be joined by Dr. Randy Lea, who is a senior research fellow at WCRI, an orthopedic… [Read more]

Honolulu, HI – A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” (Stable) for Hawai`i Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company, Inc. (HEMIC), the largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Hawai`i. HEMIC has maintained an A rating from A.M Best every year since they were… [Read more]

Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has released its Quarterly Experience Report, an update on California statewide insurer experience valued as of March 31, 2020. Highlights of the report include: California written premium for the first quarter of 2020 is 5 percent below that for the first quarter of… [Read more]