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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

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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