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Back and Shoulder Injuries with a $65K+ Price Tag: New WCRI Study Examines the Causes
Waltham, MA – August 7, 2025 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the key factors associated with…
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Does Care Started by Advanced Practitioners Result in Different Workers Comp Outcomes?
A newly released decade-long study by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) indicates that claims initiated by nurse practitioners…
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Does Care Started by Advanced Practitioners Result in Different Outcomes?
Waltham, MA – July 24, 2025 – As the shortage of primary care physicians grows, more injured workers are receiving initial care from advanced…
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WCRI: Trend of non-physicians treating hurt workers speeds up care
Advanced-care practitioners treated injured workers in 37% of nonemergency visits for evaluation and management, more than double the 18% reported…
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Policy Choices, Fee Schedules, and Inflation
During the recent period of high inflation in the general economy, states experienced varying rates in growth in workers’ compensation medical…
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Well that was fast.
Three years ago Jeff Rush of CJPIA, Jill Leonard of LWCC and I presented a session entitled “Rising Temps, Rising Risks: Climate Change &…
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Report Shows Excessive Heat Pushes Worker Injury Risk Sky High
It may come as no surprise that heat-related worker injury claims rise on hot days, but the magnitude of the increase is an eye-opener.As…
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WCRI Publishes New Report on Medical Fee Schedule Design
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) published a new study that outlines the key decisions public officials face when establishing…
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Save the Date! WCRI’s 2026 Annual Conference
WCRI's Annual Conference is back in 2026! The conference will take place March 3-4, 2026 at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Study Highlights Specific Factors Driving High-Cost Rotator Cuff Disorder Claims
Waltham, MA – July 8, 2025 – A new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) identifies detailed factors associated with…
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Member Spotlight: Nancy Kelly of Averitt Express
In this WCRI Member Spotlight, we speak with Nancy Kelly of Averitt Express—a leading transportation and logistics provider with 140 service…
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Impact of Inflation on Workers’ Compensation Medical Payments from 2020 to 2025
Waltham, MA, June 30, 2025 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) sheds light on how the high-inflation period of…
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Recorded Webinar: Heat-Related Illnesses in the Workplace
In this free, 30-minute webinar held on June 26, 2025, author and senior policy analyst Dr. Vennela Thumula discussed WCRI's recent research,…
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New WCRI Study Explores Promises and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Workers’ Compensation
Waltham, MA, June 25, 2025 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines how stakeholders view the promises and…
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Striking the Balance: WCRI Study Reveals Key Decisions in Workers’ Comp Fee Schedules
Waltham, MA, June 20, 2025 – As policymakers seek to implement or revise price controls in their state workers’ compensation systems through…
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From Awareness to Action: Creating a Mental Health Action Plan for Your Organization
From stress and burnout to substance use disorders, this Travelers Institute session provided a comprehensive framework for understanding mental…
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WCRI: New Hires Account for Largest Share of Claims
Short-tenure workers with less than two years of experience continue to account for the largest share of workers' compensation claims in New…
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WCRI: Growth of Short-Tenure Workers as Share of Claims in New Jersey Echoes National Trend
Waltham, MA, June 10, 2025 – Short-tenure workers, meaning those with less than two years of job tenure, continued to account for the largest…
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WCRI’s New Studies
WCRI is on the ball. A webinar on Heat-Related Illnesses in the Workplace is scheduled for June 26; register here. Space is limited so don’t get…
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Webinar: Heat-Related Illnesses in the Workplace
Waltham, MA, June 5, 2025 — With summer approaching, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is hosting a free, 30-minute webinar on…
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Moore: 187 Pages of WCRI State Stats
One of the best free workers' comp info sources on medical pricing nationwide was published in May by the Workers Compensation Research…
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Heat Illness Prevention: California Worker Protection Laws in 2025
According to the National Safety Council, the Workers Compensation Research Institute found a pattern of heat-related illness incidents across the…
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Hospital Outpatient Payments Grew Faster in States with Charge-Based or No Fee Schedules
Waltham, MA, May 29, 2025 – As policymakers nationwide focus on the rising costs of health care, a new study from the Workers Compensation…
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WCRI: Virginia Workers’ Compensation Claims Costs Grew Slower Than Most States
Waltham, MA, May 27, 2025 – A recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that total costs per workers’…
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WCRI: Minnesota Seeing Rapid Growth in Total Costs per Workers’ Compensation Claim
Waltham, MA, May 22, 2025 – Workers’ compensation costs per claim in Minnesota rose about 10 percent annually from 2021 to 2023, following…
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WCRI Releases 2025 Edition of Free Medical Price Index for Workers’ Comp (MPI-WC)
Waltham, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently released the 2025 edition of its annual study, WCRI Medical Price Index…
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General Inflation Having an Impact on Faster Growth in Workers’ Compensation Medical Prices
Waltham, MA, May 20, 2025 —The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released the 2025 edition of its annual study, WCRI Medical…
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Recorded Webinar: Highlights of the Delaware Workers’ Compensation System
In this free, 30-minute webinar held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Evelina Radeva discussed findings from WCRI's CompScope™ Benchmarks for…
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WCRI Reports Cost Trends Mostly Linked to Wages
The Workers Compensation Research Institute said recent changes in overall costs per claim in Florida in 2022 and 2023 were largely the result of…
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WCRI: Recent Trends in Florida Costs per Workers’ Compensation Claim Highly Influenced by Wages
Waltham, MA, May 13, 2025 – The recent changes in overall costs per claim in 2022 and 2023 in Florida were largely due to wage growth, according…
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WCRI: Total Cost per Workers’ Compensation Claim in Delaware Remains Stable
Waltham, MA, May 6, 2025 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that total costs per workers’ compensation…
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WCRI Finds Increase in Frequency After States Allow Recreational Cannabis
Claim frequency increased by an average of 7.7% in states after the adoption of recreational cannabis laws, according to a new study by the Workers…
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WorkCompRecap: Comparing Costs!
Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of the latest edition of WCRI’s CompScope Benchmarks reports, which provide ongoing annual…
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Impact of Recreational Marijuana Laws on Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Waltham, MA, April 30, 2025 – As more states adopt recreational marijuana laws (RMLs), a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute…
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Navigating the Heat: Workplace Safety to Rising Temperatures
Recent studies by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) shed light on the…
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WCRI notes rising comp claims costs in most of the country
Indemnity benefits and medical costs per workers compensation claim grew in most states since 2021, according to research reports released Monday…
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WCRI: Total Costs per Workers’ Compensation Claim Increased Across 18 Study States
Waltham, MA, April 28, 2025―Total costs per workers’ compensation claim rose between 2 and 14 percent annually from 2021 to 2023 across 18…
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State of the States: April 25, 2025
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released its 2025 Annual Report. This report highlights WCRI’s studies, which helped guide…
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Comp Spotlight with Sebastian Negrusa of WCRI
Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research for the Workers Compensation Research Institute, discusses the latest research studies on injured…
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Recorded Webinar: Workers’ Comp Claims Composition & Trends Around the Pandemic
In this 30-minute recorded webinar held on April 17, 2025, at 2 PM ET, Dr. Vennela Thumula discussed findings from a recent WCRI…
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WCRI Releases 2025 Annual Report
The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently announced the release of its 2025 Annual Report. The report highlights WCRI’s studies…
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Physical Therapy Can Lead Innovation in Workers’ Compensation Medical Care
The landscape of workers’ compensation has shifted significantly in recent years, impacted by technology, advances in medical treatments, and a…
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WCRI Report: Comorbidities Increase Claim Costs and Duration of Temporary Disability
Waltham, MA, March 27, 2025 – A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) reveals that claims involving degenerative…
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2025 WCRI Annual Report Now Available
Waltham, MA, March 25, 2025 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 Annual Report,…
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WCRI 2025 Conference: Informative, Impartial Success
Last week, the daisyBill team had the pleasure of attending the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Issues & Research…
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WCRI Panel Explores Shifting Dynamics in Medical Workforce and Workers’ Compensation
At the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Conference in Phoenix yesterday, researchers presented findings on how changes in…
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New Report Compares Workers’ Compensation Laws Across U.S. States and Canada
Waltham, MA, February 27, 2025 – A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the International Association of…
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WCRI Report Inspects Impact of Pandemic on Medical Utilization
The Workers Compensation Research Institute released a new report exploring variations in medical utilization trends during the COVID-19 pandemic…
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New WCRI Report: COVID-19’s Impact on Medical Utilization by Age and Tenure
Waltham, MA, February 25, 2025 —The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released a new FlashReport exploring how medical…
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Will Washington’s Changes Impact Comp?
The 2025 WCRI Issues & Research Conference is almost here—March 6–7 in Phoenix, AZ. With ongoing changes in Washington, now is the perfect…
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State of the States Jan. 31, 2025
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released its Changes in the Medical Workforce and Impact on Claims report. This report…
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WCRI Report: Lump-Sum Settlements More Frequent in New York Following 2007 Reforms
Waltham, MA, January 30, 2025 — A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) revealed a rise in the frequency of lump-sum…
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Who Should Attend WCRI’s 2025 Conference?
A common question we receive about our annual conference is: Who should attend? The answer is simple: anyone interested in learning about the…
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Comp sees increase in advanced medical practitioners treating workers
The workers compensation industry has seen a steady rise in the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants tending to injured workers…
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WCRI Study Explores Lifecycle of Claim
The Workers Compensation Research Institute on Thursday released a new study offering an in-depth look at the lifecycle of a work comp claim in New…
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WCRI Examines Impact of Recent Medical Workforce Trends on Injured Workers
Waltham, MA, January 23, 2025 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) analyzes recent changes in the composition of…
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UNC Prof. Holmes to Discuss Rural Healthcare Access Threats at 2025 WCRI Conference
Waltham, MA, January 22, 2025 — The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is excited to announce that University of North Carolina (UNC)…
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Check out our new study on workers’ compensation claims in New York!
A new WCRI study offers an in-depth look at workers' compensation claims in New York, focusing on the prevalence and costs of various claim…
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WCRI: Examining the Life Cycle of New York Workers’ Compensation Claims
Waltham, MA, January 16, 2025 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) offers an in-depth look at workers'…
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WCRI wishes you a happy new year!
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Unpack WCRI’s new heat-related illness (HRI) FlashReport
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WCRI: Incidence of Heat-Related Illnesses Rises Dramatically at Temperatures Above 90°F
Waltham, MA, Dec. 18, 2024―As the number of heat-related illnesses (HRIs), such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, continues to rise, a new…
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WCRI: Pennsylvania Experiencing Larger Decline in Utilization of Hospital Services Than Many States
Waltham, MA, Nov. 14, 2024 – A recently released study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that utilization of hospital…
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WCRI: North Carolina Medical Payments for Treating Injured Workers Decreased from 2021 to 2022, Unlike in Most States
Waltham, MA, Nov. 7, 2024 – A recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that medical payments per claim for the…
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Member Spotlight: Neil Deblock of Zurich North America
Our latest WCRI Member Spotlight features Neil DeBlock, Vice President and Head of Workers' Compensation at Zurich North America, a proud WCRI…
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WCRI: Minnesota Workers’ Compensation System Potentially Beginning Rebound from Pandemic Disruptions
Waltham, MA, October 31, 2024 – A recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that the delivery of medical care to…
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WCRI: Indiana Medical Payments Per Claim Under Workers’ Compensation Higher Than Most States
Waltham, MA, October 24, 2024 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that medical payments per claim for the…
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WCRI: Cost of Medical Treatment for Workers Injured in California Near Middle of Study States
Waltham, MA, October 17, 2024—A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that workers’ compensation medical…
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WCRI: Utilization of Medical Care for Workers with Injuries Continues to Decline
Waltham, MA, October 10, 2024 ― A new set of studies from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that utilization of medical…
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WCRI Study Shows Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Comp Payments
Attorney involvement in workers’ compensation claims substantially increases total indemnity benefits paid to workers, a new study of nearly 1…
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WCRI: Delaware Workers’ Comp Claim Costs Increased 3 Percent Annually (2019–2022)
Waltham, MA, Sept. 30, 2024 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shows that the average cost of workers'…
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WCRI: Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments
Waltham, MA, Sept. 25, 2024―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the effect of attorney involvement on…
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Registration Now Open for 2025 Annual WCRI Issues & Research Conference
Waltham, MA, Sept. 24, 2024 — The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its…
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Webinar: Highlights of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation System
Waltham, MA, Sept. 10, 2024 ― The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will hold a free, one-hour webinar on Wednesday, October 2,…
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WCRI Study Identifies Key Factors Associated with High-Cost Claims in Workers’ Compensation
Waltham, MA, Aug. 8, 2024―Many studies have shown that health care costs are concentrated among a small percentage of individuals with diverse…
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Member Spotlight: Stacy Kohlnhofer, Division Chair of The Mayo Clinic
We had the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Kohlnhofer, the Division Chair at the Mayo Clinic, a longstanding member of WCRI. The Mayo Clinic, a…
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Racked by Extreme Heat, One Worker Died on the Job. His Story Is a Warning.
As heat increases, so does risk for some workers. The probability of work-related accidents grows by 5% to 6% when maximum daily temperatures rise…
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Dept. of Workforce Development: Insurance premiums for worker’s compensation continue to decline
The worker’s compensation program covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job. The independent, nonprofit Workers…
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New Study Highlights Behavioral Health in New York Workers’ Compensation System
Waltham, MA, July 30, 2024―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the prevalence and use of behavioral…
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Younger workers injured more often than those nearing retirement: Study
The proportion of work-related injuries among newly hired workers increased from 2017 to 2022, with workers under 25 reporting more frequent…
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WCRI: Half of All Injuries Occurred in the First Two Years of Workers’ Tenure with At-Injury Employer
Waltham, MA, July 18, 2024 ― A new FlashReport from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that the proportion of injuries…
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Viewpoint: Need for heat safety rising
For employers and insurers, the effects of rising heat-related illnesses and claims are a growing concern. California’s insurance department…
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Webinar: Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments Across States
The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET on its study, Interstate…
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Farmworkers in the US cultivate their own heat safety standards
Yet, Constible said, "the research has kept piling up that heat is not only potentially deadly to workers, but also drastically affects their…
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Biden Administration to Announce First National Heat Protections for Workers
One recent study found that the probability of work-related accidents increases by 5 percent to 6 percent when the maximum daily temperature rises…
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Solving pain – opioids, NSAIDs, and better options
WCRI’s latest report on drugs in workers’ comp has some excellent news...opioid usage dropped 29% from Q1 2021 to Q1 2023.
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WCRI: Dermatological Agents and NSAIDs Continue to Be Top Cost Drivers in Workers’ Compensation
Waltham, MA, June 20, 2024 ― The latest edition of the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) drug trends report finds that while…
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WCRI: Medical Fee Schedules Play Big Role in Shaping Price Changes During Inflationary Period in State Workers’ Compensation Systems
Waltham, MA, June 13, 2024—In recent years, inflation in the workers’ compensation system has been a concern, as inflation in the overall…
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Map Shows ‘Extreme’ Heat Risk Warning as Florida Braces
A study released last week by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that excessive heat leads to a significant increase in workplace…
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High Temperatures Increase Work-Related Injury Risk
As the frequency of extremely hot days increases, so does the number of heat-related illness and work injuries, according to researchers at the…
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Heat and Virtue Signaling.
Aside from a few very recent studies (kudos to WCRI and NCCI) and rare conference sessions the industry has ignored – and continues to ignore –…
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WCRI: Despite Large Growth, Wisconsin Duration of Temporary Disability per Workers’ Compensation Claim Still Shorter Than Most Study States
Waltham, MA, May 28, 2024—A recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that Wisconsin’s average indemnity…
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Lowering the Temperature on Workers’ Comp Claims, Literally
The probability of work-related accidents increases by 5 to 6% when the temperature rises above 90 degrees compared to 65-70 degrees, according to…
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WCRI: Hospital Outpatient Payments Lower and Growing Slower in States with Fixed-Amount Fee Schedules
Waltham, MA, May 23, 2024―With rising hospital costs a focus of public policy debates across the country, a new study from the Workers…
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WCRI: Michigan Costs per Workers’ Compensation Claim Lowest of 17-State Study Group
Waltham, MA, May 22, 2024—A recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that overall costs per workers’…
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WCRI Webinar: The Impact of Excessive Heat on Workplace Injuries
Waltham, MA, May 21, 2024—The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 2 p.m.…
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WCRI: Prices for Medical Professional Services Provided to Injured Workers Were Higher and Grew Faster in States without a Fee Schedule
Waltham, MA, May 16, 2024―Since medical costs are a constant focus for policymakers and system stakeholders in state workers’ compensation…
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Illinois Indemnity under Workers’ Compensation Rose, but Declining Medical Payments Led to Stable Overall Costs
A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that indemnity benefits per claim in Illinois increased 5 percent in…
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New study details heat risks for workers
After Florida lawmakers this year barred local heat protections for workers, a new study cites "strong and robust evidence that excessive heat…
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WCRI Study Explores Excessive Heat’s Influence on Workplace Injuries
Waltham, MA―With U.S. officials bracing for another summer of dangerous heat, a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI)…
