WCRI - Workers Compensation Research Institute

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WCRI FlashReport – Worker Attorney Involvement: A New Measure

The study helps inform policymakers and stakeholders about whether worker attorney involvement in their state is lower, near the middle, or higher relative to other states. It also helps facilitate…

Designing Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedules, 2016

The purpose of this report is to highlight some of the most important design choices that public officials face in adopting, reforming, and updating a fee schedule for physicians and to show how the…

The Effects of Provider Choice Policies on Workers’ Compensation Costs

This study provides new insights into a long-standing policy discussion over whether the choice of provider in workers’ compensation cases should be left to workers or to employers.

CompScope™ Benchmarks, 17th Edition

These comprehensive reference reports measure the performance of 18 different state workers’ compensation systems, how they compare with each other, and how they have changed over time.

The…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders interested in the Wisconsin workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Virginia, 17th Edition

This report helps policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Virginia workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of performance…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Texas, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Texas workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

Monitoring the North Carolina System: CompScope™ Benchmarks, 17th Edition

This study continues to monitor the effects of major legislation, House Bill (HB) 709, passed by the North Carolina legislature in 2011. It includes claims occurring up to slightly more than four years…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for New Jersey, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the New Jersey workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety of…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Michigan, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Michigan workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 17th Edition

The study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Massachusetts workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders interested in the Louisiana workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Kentucky, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Kentucky workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Indiana, 17th Edition

This study provides an early look at changes in the Indiana workers’ compensation system following significant legislation in 2013 and 2014 that focused on several key policy concerns. House Enrolled…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Illinois, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Illinois workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Georgia, 17th Edition

This report helps policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Georgia workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of performance…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Florida, 17th Edition

This study provides meaningful comparisons between Florida and 17 other workers’ compensation systems (Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for California, 17th Edition

This study continues to monitor the impact of Senate Bill (SB) 863, a comprehensive reform legislation enacted in 2013. The reform provisions have various effective dates. The data covered in this report…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders interested in the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Minnesota, 17th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders interested in the Minnesota workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

Monitoring Trends in the New York Workers’ Compensation System, 2005-2014

The study is the ninth annual report to regularly track key metrics of the performance of the workers’ compensation system after the implementation of the March 2007 statutory changes in New York…

Evaluation of the 2015 and 2016 Fee Schedule Changes in Delaware

This study evaluates the early impact of Delaware House Bill (HB) 373, which had a goal to reduce medical expenses in the state’s workers’ compensation system by 33 percent over three years.…

WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers’ Compensation, Eighth Edition (MPI-WC)

In recent policy debates, increasing costs of medical care for treating injured workers have been a focus of public policymakers and system stakeholders in many states. To help them conduct meaningful…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Indiana, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Indiana and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Illinois, 17th Edition

Recent policy discussions in Illinois have focused on reducing workers’ compensation costs and making the state more attractive to businesses. Among the areas of interest are causation of the…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Georgia, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Georgia compared with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Florida, 17th Edition

This report examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Florida compared with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for California, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in California compared with 17 other states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 17th Edition

This report examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Wisconsin and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Virginia, 17th Edition

This 17th edition of CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks provides information for Virginia policymakers and stakeholders on various components of workers’ compensation medical payments and on…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Texas, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Texas and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 17th Edition

This This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Pennsylvania and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for North Carolina, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in North Carolina and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for New Jersey, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in New Jersey and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Minnesota, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Minnesota and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Michigan 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Michigan and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Massachusetts and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Louisiana, 17th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Louisiana and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Kentucky, 17th Edition

This is the first CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks study for Kentucky and the 17th edition of an annual study that examines payments, prices, and utilization of medical care received by injured workers…

Hospital Outpatient Payment Index: Interstate Variations and Policy Analysis, 5th Edition

Rising hospital costs in the treatment of injured workers receives attention from public policymakers and system stakeholders in many states. To assist in better understanding these costs, this study…

Monitoring Tennessee Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective August 9, 2012, all pharmaceutical bills submitted for repackaged drugs in Tennessee must include the National Drug Codes (NDCs) of the original drug products used in the repackaging process;…

Impact of South Carolina Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective December 19, 2011, South Carolina changed the reimbursement rules for physician-dispensed drugs by capping prices paid for physician-dispensed repackaged drugs at the manufacturer’s…

Monitoring Michigan Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective December 26, 2012, Michigan changed the reimbursement rules to set the prices for physician-dispensed prescription drugs to 90 percent of the average wholesale price (AWP) of the original…

Monitoring Indiana Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective July 1, 2013, Indiana House Bill (HB) 1320 requires that the maximum reimbursement amount for a repackaged drug be computed using the average wholesale price (AWP) set by the original manufacturer…

Monitoring Illinois Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective November 20, 2012, Illinois adopted new rules governing the reimbursement and billing of physician-dispensed drugs. The new rules set the maximum reimbursement amount for drugs dispensed outside…

Monitoring Connecticut Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective July 15, 2012, Connecticut’s new Official Practitioner Fee Schedule limits the reimbursement amount for physician-dispensed repackaged drugs to the manufacturer’s average wholesale…

Impact of Georgia Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Effective April 1, 2011, Georgia changed the reimbursement rules for physician-dispensed prescriptions by capping the prices paid for repackaged drugs at the average wholesale price (AWP) of the original…

Early Impact of Florida Reforms on Physician Dispensing - July 2016

Motivated by concerns about the higher costs of physician-dispensed prescriptions in Florida, a provision of Senate Bill 662, effective July 1, 2013, requires that repackaged or relabeled prescription…

Interstate Variations in Use of Opioids, 3rd Edition

This study examines interstate variations and trends in the use of opioids and prescribing patterns of pain medications across 25 states. The study compares the amount of opioids prescribed per claim…

Longer-Term Use of Opioids, 3rd Edition

The study examines the prevalence and trends of longer-term use of opioids in 25 states and how often the services recommended by medical treatment guidelines were used for monitoring and managing chronic…

Comparing Payments to Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Hospitals, 2nd Edition

The substantial expansion of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) has attracted the attention of workers’ compensation policymakers and system stakeholders in many states. In 1996, there were about…

Payments to Ambulatory Surgery Centers, 2nd Edition

The substantial expansion of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) has attracted the attention of workers’ compensation policymakers and system stakeholders in many states. In 1996, there were about…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Wisconsin, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Wisconsin with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Virginia, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Virginia with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Tennessee, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Tennessee with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Pennsylvania, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Pennsylvania with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in North Carolina, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in North Carolina with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Minnesota, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Minnesota with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Michigan, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Michigan with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Massachusetts, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Massachusetts with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Kentucky, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Kentucky with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Iowa, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Iowa with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Indiana, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Indiana with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Georgia, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Georgia with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Florida, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Florida with 14 other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Connecticut, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Connecticut with 14 other states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers In Arkansas, May 2016

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Arkansas with 14 other states (Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,…

Workers’ Compensation Laws as of January 1, 2016

An essential tool for researching and understanding the distinctions among workers’ compensation laws in all U.S. states and certain Canadian provinces is now available from the International…

Crossing State Lines for Ambulatory Surgical Care: Exploring Claims from New York

This study found a puzzling trend for workers’ compensation claims in New York State. Between 2010 and 2013, the average ambulatory surgery center (ASC) payments for knee and shoulder surgeries…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Michigan, 16th Edition

The 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Michigan can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 16th Edition

This 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Massachusetts can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends for a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Minnesota, 16th Edition

This 16th edition of the CompScope™ Benchmarks study focuses on income benefits, overall medical payments, use of benefits, duration of disability, benefit delivery expenses, timeliness of payment,…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 16th Edition

The 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Kentucky, 16th Edition

CompScope™ Benchmarks, 16th Edition provides a comprehensive study that benchmarks the performance of state workers’ compensation systems. CompScope™ examines the key cost drivers…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Indiana, 16th Edition

This 16th edition CompScope™ Benchmarks study provides a baseline for monitoring changes in the Indiana workers’ compensation system following significant legislation in 2013 and 2014 that…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Illinois, 16th Edition

This 16th edition of the CompScope™ Benchmarks provides ongoing annual monitoring of how indemnity benefits, medical payments, and benefit delivery expenses per claim change over time, as well…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Georgia, 16th Edition

This 16th edition CompScope™ report benchmarks the performance of state workers’ compensation systems in 18 states, focusing on income benefits, overall medical payments, costs, use of benefits,…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Florida, 16th Edition

CompScope™ Benchmarks for California, 16th Edition

This 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for California reports some of the early impact of Senate Bill (SB) 863 (effective January 1, 2013). The study can help policymakers and system stakeholders…

Physician Dispensing of Higher-Priced New Drug Strengths and Formulation, April 2016

This report found evidence of frequent physician dispensing of new drug strengths and a new formulation at much higher prices. This phenomenon was observed in several states with recent reforms aimed…

Do Higher Fee Schedules Increase the Number of Workers’ Compensation Cases?

Policymakers have always focused on the impact fee schedules have on access to care as well as utilization of services. This study shines a light on an issue that policymakers and other system stakeholders…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 16th Edition

The 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks study for Wisconsin can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Virginia, 16th Edition

This 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks provides information for Virginia policymakers and stakeholders on the performance of the state’s workers’ compensation system by examining…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Texas, 16th Edition

The 16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Texas can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’ compensation…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 16th Edition

The16th edition of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Pennsylvania can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in a wide variety of workers’…

Monitoring the North Carolina System: CompScope™ Benchmarks, 16th Edition

This 16th edition CompScope™ Benchmarks study continues to monitor the effects of major legislation passed in 2011, House Bill (HB) 709. This report includes claims occurring up to about 39 months…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for New Jersey, 16th Edition

This 16th edition CompScope™ report benchmarks the performance of the New Jersey workers’ compensation system as compared to 17 other states. The study focuses on income benefits, overall…

Texas-Like Formulary for North Carolina State Employees

Last year, the North Carolina General Assembly directed the North Carolina Industrial Commission to study the implementation of a drug formulary for workers' compensation claims filed by state government…

Evaluation of the 2015 Fee Schedule Rates in Illinois

This study compares the workers' compensation fee schedule rates and Medicare rates for a variety of medical services in Illinois as of 2015.The medical services covered in the analysis are professional…

Monitoring Trends in the New York Workers’ Compensation System, 2005-2013

The metrics in this report provide the information necessary to observe the possible effects of some of the 2007 legislation and related administrative changes to the New York workers' compensation…

FLASHREPORT: Evaluation of the 2015 Professional Fee Schedule Update for Florida

This FlashReport was prepared in response to a request for information from the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. The agency requested information from WCRI since the Florida Legislature…

WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers’ Compensation, Seventh Edition

Increasing costs for medical care for treating injured workers have been a focus of public policymakers and system stakeholders. This 31-state study will help them understand how prices paid for medical…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Louisiana, 16th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders involved in the Louisiana workers’ compensation system identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Indiana, 16th Edition

This study examines medical payments per claim, prices, and utilization in Indiana and compares Indiana with 16 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Illinois, 16th Edition

Recent policy discussions in Illinois have focused on reducing workers’ compensation costs and making the state more attractive to businesses. This study examines medical payments, prices, and…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Florida, 16th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders involved in the Florida workers’ compensation system to identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 16th Edition

This study provides information for Virginia policymakers and stakeholders on various components of workers’ compensation medical payments and on drivers of changes in medical costs per claim…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Virginia, 16th Edition

This study provides information for Virginia policymakers and stakeholders on various components of workers’ compensation medical payments and on drivers of changes in medical costs per claim…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Georgia, 16th Edition

This is the first CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks study for Georgia and the 16th edition of an annual study that examines payments, prices, and utilization of medical…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Texas, 16th Edition

This study examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Texas and compares them with 16 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts,…

WCRI FlashReport – Worker Attorney Involvement: A New Measure

Will the Affordable Care Act Shift Claims to Workers’ Compensation Payors?

According to this study, hundreds of millions of dollars could shift from group health to workers’ compensation as Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) expand under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

…

Workers’ Compensation: Where Have We Come From? Where Are We Going?

Significant changes in workers' compensation systems have occurred since 1983. Many jurisdictions implemented reforms to try to curtail rapidly rising costs and to improve worker outcomes, insurers…

Avoiding Litigation: What Can Employers, Insurers, and State Workers’ Compensation Agencies Do?

One goal of a workers’ compensation program is to deliver necessary medical care and income benefits to workers injured on the job without the uncertainty, delay, and expense of litigation. In…