Do Higher Deductibles in Group Health Plans Increase Injured Workers’ Propensity to File for Workers’ Compensation?

This study examines whether employees injured at work are more likely to file under workers’ compensation instead of group health insurance when their group health plan has a higher deductible.…

State Policies on Treatment Guidelines and Utilization Management: A National Inventory

Evidence-based treatment guidelines are considered to be useful in the delivery of consistent and effective medical care for patients with injuries or conditions. However, there is substantial variation…

Correlates of Opioid Dispensing

This study identifies characteristics of injured workers and their employers that are associated with differences in opioid dispensing rates. For example, this study finds that injured workers in certain…

WCRI FlashReport: Comparing Payments to Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Hospital Outpatient Departments

Some studies indicate that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) provide care that is less expensive than services provided in hospitals. This study compares payments for similar knee and shoulder surgeries…

Monitoring Trends in the New York Workers’ Compensation System, 2018 Edition

This is the 11th annual report to regularly track key metrics of the performance of the New York workers’ compensation system after the implementation of the following statutory changes enacted…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 19th Edition

These reports can help identify changes over time in the provision of workers’ compensation medical care; detect areas where medical payments per claim, prices, or utilization may be higher or…

Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2018

Across the country, states are grappling with an array of different regulatory strategies, overseen by different agencies, to address prescribing of medicine. This report provides policymakers and system…

Payments to Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Georgia

This study explores how facility payments for surgeries conducted in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Georgia changed after the 2014 changes in the medical fee schedule for outpatient services.

WCRI FlashReport—Time from Injury to Medical Treatment: How States Compare

This study examines interstate differences in the time from injury to first medical treatment among injured workers. It focuses on the median number of days from injury to first medical treatment by…

Hospital Outpatient Payment Index: Interstate Variations and Policy Analysis, 7th Edition

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

WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers’ Compensation, 10th Edition (MPI-WC)

The 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 comparisons of prices…

CompScope™ Benchmarks, 18th 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…

Workers’ Compensation Medical Cost Containment: A National Inventory, 2018

The study provides policymakers and system stakeholders with an inventory of the cost containment initiatives employed by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. Federal programs (Federal…

The Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability

A new study released today examines the effect of opioid prescriptions on the duration of temporary disability benefits among workers with work-related low back injuries. While medical practice guidelines…

WCRI FlashReport: Texas-Like Formulary for Louisiana State Employees

This FlashReport focuses on how a Texas-like closed formulary might affect the prevalence and costs of drugs prescribed to Louisiana state employees. It does not study the impact of a drug formulary…

Evaluation of the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Fee Schedule Changes in Delaware

This new report provides policymakers and other stakeholders with the ability to examine all three rounds of the Delaware fee schedule changes enacted in House Bill (HB) 373. The objective of the fee…

Monitoring Trends in the New York Workers’ Compensation System, 2005-2015

This is the 10th annual report to regularly track key metrics of the performance of the New York workers’ compensation system after the 2007 reforms, which, in addition to other important provisions,…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks, 18th Edition

These reports can help identify changes over time in the provision of workers’ compensation medical care; detect areas where medical payments per claim, prices, or utilization may be higher or…

Value Based Care Fact Sheet

Value Based Care (VBC)  in Workers Comp Slides

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Tennessee, 2017 Interviews

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Tennessee with those in 14 other states. The outcomes examined include the following:

• Recovery of physical health and functioning
…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Pennsylvania, 2017 Interviews

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Pennsylvania with those in 14 other states. The outcomes examined include the following:

• Recovery of physical health and functioning
…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Minnesota, 2017 Interviews

This study compares outcomes of injured workers in Minnesota with those in 14 other states. The outcomes examined include the following:

• Recovery of physical health and functioning
…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for California, 14th Edition

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Virginia, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Texas, 19th Edition

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

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Tennessee, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for North Carolina, 19th Edition

In this study, we examine medical payments per claim, prices, and utilization in North Carolina and compare them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for New Jersey, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Minnesota, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Michigan, 19th Edition

This report can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 19th Edition

This report can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Louisiana, 19th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders in Louisiana identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Indiana, 19th Edition

This study provides a look at how medical payments per claim in the Indiana workers’ compensation system have changed following significant legislation in 2013 and 2014. In particular, House Enrolled…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Illinois, 19th Edition

This report can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Georgia, 19th Edition

This report can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Florida, 19th Edition

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

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for California, 19th Edition

This study continues to monitor how medical payments, prices, and utilization in the California workers’ compensation system have changed following the comprehensive reform legislation Senate…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Wisconsin.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Virginia, 18th Edition

This study provides information for Virginia policymakers and stakeholders on the performance of the state’s workers’ compensation system by examining income benefit payments, medical payments,…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Texas, 18th Edition

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

This…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Tennessee, 18th Edition

In 2013, Tennessee legislation Senate Bill (SB) 200 introduced significant changes to its workers’ compensation system that impact key cost components. The overall goals of the 2013 reforms in…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Pennsylvania.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for North Carolina, 18th Edition

This study continues to monitor the effects of major legislation passed in 2011, House Bill (HB) 709. It includes claims occurring up to slightly more than five years after the income benefit provisions…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for New Jersey, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in New…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Minnesota, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Minnesota.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Michigan, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Michigan.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Massachusetts.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 18th Edition

This study helps policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in indemnity benefits, medical payments, and benefit delivery expenses in Louisiana.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Indiana, 18th Edition

This report provides a 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, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Illinois.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Georgia, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments for indemnity benefits, medical care, and benefit delivery expenses in Georgia.

CompScope™ Benchmarks for Florida, 18th Edition

This study helps policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in indemnity benefits, medical payments, and benefit delivery expenses in Florida.

The…

CompScope™ Benchmarks for California, 18th Edition

This study continues to monitor the impact of comprehensive reform legislation enacted in 2013, Senate Bill (SB) 863. The policy goals of this legislation were to increase permanent disability benefits…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Wisconsin, 18th 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, 18th 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 Texas, 18th 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, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for New Jersey, 18th Edition

This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for North Carolina, 18th Edition

In this study, we examine medical payments, prices, and utilization in North Carolina and compare them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Minnesota, 18th 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, 18th Edition

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

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Massachusetts, 18th Edition

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

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Kentucky, 18th Edition

This study examines payments, prices, and utilization of medical care received by injured workers in Kentucky and compares them with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Indiana, 18th Edition

This study provides a look at how medical payments per claim in the Indiana workers’ compensation system have changed following significant legislation in 2013 and 2014. In particular, House Enrolled…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Illinois, 18th Edition

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

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Georgia, 18th Edition

Effective May 2014, the outpatient reimbursement method in Georgia changed from an International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) based fee schedule to a Medicare…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Florida, 18th Edition

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

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for California, 18th Edition

This study monitors the impact of California reform legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 863 (effective January 1, 2013), on medical payments, prices, and utilization in the state. It also compares California…

CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Louisiana, 18th 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,…

Impact of Kentucky Opioid Reforms

This study examined the initial impact of Kentucky’s House Bill (HB) 1 on opioid dispensing to newly injured workers. HB 1, which went into effect on July 1, 2012, regulated pain clinics and established…

Longer-Term Dispensing of Opioids, 4th Edition

The study examines the prevalence and trends of longer-term dispensing of opioids in 26 state workers’ compensation systems. It also documents how often the services (i.e., drug testing, psychological…

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

The increasing cost of medical care for treating injured workers has been a focus of public policymakers and system stakeholders in many states. To help them conduct meaningful comparisons of prices…

A Multistate Perspective on Physician Dispensing, 2011–2014

As of June 2017, 22 states have made legislative or regulatory changes to rules governing reimbursement for physician-dispensed pharmaceuticals. This report documents the state of physician dispensing…

Hospital Outpatient Payment Index: Interstate Variations and Policy Analysis, 6th Edition

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

Interstate Variations in Use of Opioids, 4th Edition

This report examines interstate variations and trends in the use of opioids and prescribing patterns of pain medications across 26 state workers’ compensation systems covering data from October…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Indiana, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Indiana and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the outcomes…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Wisconsin, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Wisconsin and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Virginia, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Virginia and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the outcomes…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in North Carolina, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in North Carolina and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Michigan, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Michigan and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the outcomes…

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Massachusetts, 2016 Interviews

This study updates interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Massachusetts and 14 other states. It reflects a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on…

Adequacy of Workers’ Compensation Income Benefits in Michigan

Adequacy of income benefits is one of the long-standing concerns about the performance of workers’ compensation systems. However, we know little about whether income benefits (also called wage-loss…

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…