WCRI Releases Two Great Workers Compensation Guides in October
Workers Compensation Guides by WCRI (Workers Compensation Research Institute) were released in October. The ones that caught my eye were the two below. The Benchmark study can be broken up by state if you do not wish to download the report for all 18 states.
The second guide on state prescription rules and laws is very reasonably priced for what you receive in the download. The guide covers all 50 states as of January 1 of this year. It is to be considered a snapshot of the regulations at the first of 2018,
CompScope 19th Edition – The Venerable Guide to Workers Comp Medical Payment Statistics
The following are sample findings for some of the study states:
“My comments are in quotes.”
- California: The study shows a decrease in medical payments per claim, evaluated as of March 2017, as a result of the continuing impact of Senate Bill 863. “I had thought SB 863 would have no effects on medical costs. This is a great development for CA.”
- Massachusetts: Medical payments per claim were the lowest of the 18 study states; many costs have been decreasing going back several years.
- North Carolina: Decreases in medical payments per claim were the steepest of all study states (6 percent per year since 2013), likely reflecting the impact of recent fee schedule changes. “Fee schedules are one of the best ways that a state can reduce overall workers compensation costs without reducing the level of care for injured workers.”
- Pennsylvania: Faster-than-typical growth in medical payments per claim was driven by faster growth in hospital outpatient payments per claim.
- Texas: Medical payments per claim decreased from 2014 to 2016, following several years of increasing medical costs.
- Wisconsin: In contrast to moderate to rapid growth in prior years, Wisconsin experienced little growth in medical payments per claim since 2014. “Without a fee schedule I still predict these costs will increase in the future. Usual and customary can only get you so far without a solid number to work with on medical costs/”
To download copies of the studies, visit https://www.wcrinet.org/reports/compscope-medical-benchmarks-19th-edition.
The 18 study states are Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. There are individual reports for every state except Arkansas and Iowa.
Prescriptions Drug Regulations All 50 States
In early October, the WCRI released a new report that gathers in one place the numerous state regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states, including those for injured workers.
The report, Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2018, also provides information on some of the most prominent prescription drug issues stakeholders are concerned about in 2018, such as the following:
- Rules for Limiting and Monitoring Opioid Prescriptions
- Medical Marijuana Regulations
- Workers’ Compensation Drug Formularies
- Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
- Price Regulations for Pharmacy- and Physician-Dispensed Drugs
- Drug Testing Regulations
The tables in this report were compiled from completed surveys of two agencies for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The report was authored by Karen Rothkin. For more information about this inventory or to purchase a copy, visit https://www.wcrinet.org/reports/workers-compensation-prescription-drug-regulations-a-national-inventory-201.
Please note that we receive no monies from WCRI to mention their publications. We publish them in the newsletter as they are superior workers compensation guides.
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