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New WCRI Publications
CompScope™ Benchmarks,
10th Edition
Published annually, CompScope™ Benchmarks,10th Edition examines
the system performance of 15 large states:
California,
Florida,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
Tennessee,
Texas, and
Wisconsin.
These studies provide
detailed information on two questions central to workers’
compensation: (1) How does the performance of a state system
compare with that of other states? (2) How is a state system
changing over time?
A valuable tool for policymakers and others,
these reports contain meaningful comparisons of over 60 system
performance metrics, quantify trends, identify improvement
opportunities, and monitor the impact of policy changes.
Workers' Compensation
Medical Cost Containment:
A National Inventory
Rapidly increasing medical costs in
workers’ compensation cases since the early 1990s
led an increasing number of states to adopt medical
cost containment strategies.
This report,
recognized as the most inclusive review of state
medical cost containment initiatives, gives
policymakers and practitioners a rich understanding
of regulations and policies in effect as of January
1, 2008, in all 51 workers’ compensation
jurisdictions. The tables also include two of
the Federal programs administered by the Office of
Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP).
The strategies
include: medical fee schedules, regulation of hospital charges, bill
review, choice of provider, treatment guidelines, utilization
review, managed care, pharmaceutical regulations, and urgent care
and ambulatory surgical center fee schedules. In addition to
providing a comprehensive review of which strategies have been
adopted by which states, these tables also include additional
references for those that want more detail.
As a benefit to users, the tables can be purchased as a group or as
individual tables.
read the abstract
see
list of tables
order
tables
Workers' Compensation
Laws,
2nd Edition
To meet the needs
of policymakers and others looking to understand the similarities
and differences between laws in multiple jurisdictions, the IAIABC
and WCRI have jointly published a comparison of workers’
compensation laws in all U.S. jurisdictions as well as some Canadian
provinces and an Australian jurisdiction.
This popular
resource reflects state laws in effect as of July 1, 2008, and
contains seventeen detailed tables that provide information on
coverage, exclusions and exemptions; medical benefits, lost wage and
fatality benefits; rehabilitation benefits; advocate and attorney
fee provisions; the status of second injury funds; and more.
As a benefit to
users, the tables can be purchased individually or as a complete
group.
read the abstract
see
list of tables
order
tables
Recent Research
CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 9th
Edition
The benchmarks in these reference books provide detailed
measures of medical prices, payments, and utilization by provider
type and service group in 14 states.
The states in
the study are
California,
Florida,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
North
Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
Tennessee,
Texas,
and
Wisconsin. Click on a state name to order that report.
read the abstract
order this report
Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers
in Michigan
When compared to
ten other states, we found that Michigan provided a better value
proposition for employers and injured workers. Employers paid lower
than average medical costs per claim with more than 7 days of lost
time and workers reported outcomes that were generally in the middle
of the group of 11 states.
The other states in the study are
California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
read the abstract
order this report
Did the Florida Reforms Reduce Attorney Involvement?
One of
the most controversial provisions of the 2003 Florida reforms was
the change in how workers’ attorneys fees were computed.
In
Emma Murray v. Mariner Health and Ace USA, the petitioners
argued that the 2003 reforms made it very difficult for workers to
hire attorneys, especially in cases that would generate small
attorney fees. This study provides new evidence on this
question.
read the abstract
download the free PDF
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WCRI Briefings
WCRI Spring Briefings
Scheduled
Concerned about these turbulent times? Gain new insights by
attending the WCRI web-based briefings. Results from the new
CompScope™ Benchmarks, 10th Edition, will be
presented in briefings scheduled for Florida, Illinois,
Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Lessons from other WCRI studies
will also be included. For a complete schedule, and to
register, go to
Conferences &
Seminars
In the
News
WCRI's recent media releases
Articles referencing WCRI research.
Insurance Journal
Economic Downturn Puts Pressure on Return-to-Work Programs
The recent recession and record unemployment rates have increased pressure on the workers' compensation insurance system to
help return injured employees back to work while effectively
managing costs.
full article
Risk & Insurance
Florida: Medical Costs Driven by Increase in Payments per Service,
Report Finds
The report by
the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that medical costs
per claim grew at a rate of 5 to 7 percent annually in 2005 and 2006
after slowing for a period immediately following the reforms. The
legislation affected many aspects of the workers' comp system in the
state, including a change in fee schedule rates.
full article
Risk & Insurance
Michigan
Provides Better 'Value Proposition' for Injured Workers, Employers
A
report by the Workers Compensation Research Institute, Comparing
Outcomes for Injured Workers in Michigan, compared Michigan with
10 other states in the context of this "key value proposition."
Researchers found that outcomes for injured workers in Michigan were
generally in the middle of the range on most measures.
full article
WCRI Mailing List
Would you like to be notified when a new study is published, a web
briefing is being offered, a public briefing is scheduled, or new
information on our conference is available? Join WCRI's mailing list
and you will receive monthly email updates about upcoming events and
publications. Click on the link below to be added to the WCRI
mailing list.
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