These studies update interstate comparisons of the key outcomes achieved by injured workers in Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin and nine other states. The studies reflect a multiyear effort by WCRI to collect and examine data on the outcomes of medical care achieved by injured workers in a growing number of states.

By examining outcomes of injured workers, policymakers and other stakeholders can better understand how different state workers' compensation systems compare in order to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve system performance. The outcomes we examine in these studies include the following:

  • Recovery of physical health and functioning
  • Return to work
  • Earnings recovery
  • Access to medical care
  • Satisfaction with medical care

Interviews were conducted in Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin in 2016. Interviews for all other states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee) were conducted from 2013 to 2015.

Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers, 2016 Interviews. Bogdan Savych and Vennela Thumula. June 2017. WC-17-22-27.