Time to First Medical Service—A WCRI FlashReport

This study examines the time from injury to first medical service among injured workers across states before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Time to first service provides insights for the understanding of access to medical care for workers with injuries. The focus of the analysis is on the median number of days from injury to first medical service by major type of provider (such as… Read More >>

Comorbidities and Recovery after Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain

This study examines the prevalence of self-reported comorbidities, assesses the association between self-reported comorbidities and functional improvements, and identifies other important predictors of physical therapy outcomes. Identifying these comorbidities and understanding their impact on recovery may help workers’ compensation stakeholders better understand which low back pain cases are… Read More >>

Trends in the Delaware Workers’ Compensation System, 2016–2021

This study is the third annual report examining key performance metrics of the Delaware workers’ compensation benefit delivery system. The analysis covers total claim costs, medical payments, indemnity benefits, disability duration, benefit delivery expenses, and other metrics. It analyzes how these metrics of system performance have changed over time from 2016 to 2021 (at various claim… Read More >>

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 24th Edition

The factors behind trends in medical payments per claim in 17 state workers’ compensation systems and the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on those costs are examined in this 24th edition of CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks. The studies examine trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical care for workers with injuries. They provide analyses of recent costs and trends for… Read More >>

Changes in the Workforce and Their Impact on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes

As the U.S. economy experienced important disruptions in the last few years, the workers’ compensation system has likely been affected in various ways. This new WCRI study provides insights into how recent economic and demographic changes have influenced the workers’ compensation system. It also provides forecasts of how these changes will likely affect workers’ compensation outcomes in… Read More >>

WCRI Holds Webinar on CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 24th Edition

Cambridge, MA, Oct. 27, 2023 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will hold a one-hour webinar on its recently release CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 24th Edition on Thurs., Nov. 16, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET. WCRI Senior Analyst and Author Carol Telles will share findings from the studies and take audience questions. “The CompScope™ series is a valuable tool for monitoring… Read More >>

Carol Telles Presenting at LABI’s 2023 Workers’ Comp Seminar

WCRI Senior Analyst Carol Telles will be presenting research on how the Louisiana workers' compensation system compares to other states at LABI's 2023 Workers' Comp Seminar, Oct. 12-13 in Baton Rouge, LA. Learn more at https://buff.ly/3ZP7bOY. #workerscomp Read More >>

2024 WCRI Conference: Keynote Announced and Registration Open

Cambridge, MA, Oct. 10, 2023―The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that registration is open and acclaimed Harvard economist David Cutler will keynote the 2024 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 5-6 at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston, MA. “David has an impressive record of achievement in both academia and the public sector, having advised presidents… Read More >>

WCRI Holds Webinar on Long COVID in the Workers’  Compensation System in 2020 and 2021

Cambridge, MA, Sept. 15, 2023 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will hold a 30-min. webinar on its study Long COVID in the Workers' Compensation System in 2020 and 2021 on Tues., Oct. 3, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET. Author Dr. Bogdan Savych with share findings from the study and take audience questions. “The main points from this study are that long COVID continued to… Read More >>

WCRI Webinar on Medical Inflation in Workers’ Compensation

Cambridge, MA, August 15, 2023 – Join the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) for a 30-min. webinar on Wed., Sept. 6, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET as authors Olesya Fomenko and Rebecca Yang discuss findings and answer questions from Insights into Medical Inflation in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport. “The steep growth in consumer prices for energy, food, and… Read More >>

WCRI Report Examines Challenges of Low Back Pain and Comorbid Health Issues

Workers’ compensation patients who report comorbidities, especially mental health comorbidities (anxiety, depression, sleep dysfunction), had a stronger association with smaller functional recoveries than those who only reported physical health comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity. That’s according to a recent Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) report examining… Read More >>

Study finds no pattern of ER delays for injured workers during pandemic

While there were some delays for injured workers who needed surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Workers’ Compensation Research Institute study released Tuesday found no pattern of delays in access to emergency care and initial medical evaluations immediately following injuries. Read More >>

Time from Injury to First Medical Service among Workers’ Compensation Patients Examined before and after the Pandemic in New WCRI Study

Cambridge, MA, November 28, 2023—A new Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study, Time to First Medical Service—A WCRI FlashReport, examines the time from injury to first medical service among injured workers across states before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Time to first service provides insights for the understanding of access to medical care for workers with injuries.… Read More >>

Long COVID And Workers’ Comp, A Deep Dive Into A Real Issue

Did we ever learn a lot during the once-in-a-generation health event that was COVID! Guest Dr. Bogdan Savych of the Workers Comp Research Institute (WCRI) is a policy analyst who is studying the lasting effects of the illness, as well as lingering cases of Long Covid. Read More >>

Getting smarter about PT.

Why do some patients need more PT than others? Why does a therapist’s treatment duration vary for patients with the same diagnosis? What conditions have the most impact on patient recovery? Thanks to WCRI’s Vennela Thumula PharmD; Randall Lea MD; and Te-Chun Liu there are answers. Read More >>

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Testimonials

Brad Lehto
Chief of Staff
Minnesota AFL-CIO

WCRI's research allows stakeholders in Minnesota to more independently evaluate our workers' compensation system. It leads to more informed discussion on system reforms in a balanced,…

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Our WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers' Compensation, 15th Edition compares prices paid for medical professional services across 36 states and monitors price changes from 2008 to 2022, which includes just over a year of medical services delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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