News & Events

​WCRI: Medical Payments for the Treatment of Injured Workers in Indiana Stable between 2016 and 2021, but Masked Offsetting Changes

October 19 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 19, 2023 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that medical payments per workers’ compensation claim in Indiana changed little between 2016 and 2021.

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Kathy Fisher presenting at 15th Annual Workers Compensation and Safety Conference hosted by the Illinois Chamber and Illinois Self-Insurers’ Association

October 18 2023

Emergency Department

Today, our colleague Kathy Fisher is presenting WCRI research at the 15th Annual Workers Compensation and Safety Conference hosted by the Illinois Chamber and Illinois Self-Insurers' Association. Kathy's presentation will address the impact of the pandemic on the workers’ comp system using WCRI research on long COVID, and workers’ comp trends in Illinois.

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Medical Costs for Injured Workers in Delaware Fell During Pandemic: WCRI Study

October 13 2023

Emergency Department

A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that total costs per claim with more than seven days of lost time in Delaware decreased in 2020 and then increased in 2021, based on claims evaluated as of March 2022. The study found that changes in the availability of medical services and economic conditions were the main factors behind the 2020 and 2021 findings. Reforms enacted in 2014 also had an effect on medical…

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WCRI: Cost of Medical Treatment for Workers Injured on the Job in Delaware Decreased During the Pandemic, Benefit Payments Increased

October 12 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 12, 2023 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that total costs per claim with more than seven days of lost time in Delaware decreased in 2020 and then increased in 2021 (claims evaluated as of March 2022). Changes in the availability of medical services and economic conditions were the main factors behind the 2020 and 2021 findings.

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Carol Telles Presenting at LABI’s 2023 Workers’ Comp Seminar

October 11 2023

Emergency Department

WCRI Senior Analyst Carol Telles will be presenting research on how the Louisiana workers' compensation system compares to other states at LABI's 2023 Workers' Comp Seminar, Oct. 12-13 in Baton Rouge, LA. Learn more at https://buff.ly/3ZP7bOY. #workerscomp

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Dr. Tate Rice: The Importance of the Physical Therapist in Addressing the Physical and Behavioral Health of Injured Worker Patients

October 10 2023

Emergency Department

In a Workers’ Compensation Research Institute study, patients who initiated PT more than 30 days after injury had worse health outcomes than those who began therapy within three days. Those who initiated PT later were 47% more likely to have an MRI, 46% more likely to be prescribed opioids, 29% more likely to receive injections for pain management, and 89% more likely to have back surgery. Those are a lot of negative consequences!

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2024 WCRI Conference: Keynote Announced and Registration Open

October 09 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Oct. 10, 2023―The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that registration is open and acclaimed Harvard economist David Cutler will keynote the 2024 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 5-6 at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston, MA.

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WCRI: Medical Payments Continued to Decline in 2021, Reflecting Lingering Effects of Pandemic

October 05 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 5, 2023 ― Medical payments per claim decreased more than 3 percent in most of the 17 study states for 2021 injuries with experience through March 2022, according to a new set of studies by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The main driver of this was a decrease in utilization of medical services, likely the result of the pandemic.

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WCRI: 6% of COVID Claimants Treated for Long COVID

October 04 2023

Emergency Department

A national study by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute found that 6% of workers who filed claims for COVID-19 suffered long COVID, meaning they sought additional treatment more than a month after the initial infection.

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What Employers Should Know About Workers Who Have Long COVID-19

September 29 2023

Emergency Department

An August report from the nonprofit Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that care for long COVID can be costly. Many workers who developed long COVID continued receiving medical care a year after their infections. At an average of 18 months of post-infection experience, workers with long COVID received more than 20 weeks of temporary disability benefits and received on average about $29,000 in medical care. This was more than…

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All Changed, Changed Utterly

September 21 2023

Emergency Department

That line, from W.B. Yeats’ great poem, “Easter, 1916”, comes to mind when we look back on what COVID has done to the US workforce in a scant few years. The good folks at the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) have cast a critical-statistical eye over the recent COVID-addled period, 2019 to 2022, in their new research report: Changes in the Workforce and Their Impact on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes (free to WCRI…

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What’s Up, Long COVID?

September 21 2023

Emergency Department

For the other news, we turn to a new report from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), Long COVID in the Workers’ Compensation System in 2020 and 2021. The report is detailed because long COVID is not simple.

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WCRI Holds Webinar on Long COVID in the Workers’  Compensation System in 2020 and 2021

September 14 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Sept. 15, 2023 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will hold a 30-min. webinar on its study Long COVID in the Workers' Compensation System in 2020 and 2021 on Tues., Oct. 3, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET. Author Dr. Bogdan Savych will share findings from the study and take audience questions.

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Joe Paduda: Medical inflation in work comp…

September 11 2023

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Isn’t a problem. In most states. Today. That is the headline takeaway from WCRI’s presentation last week…

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Alternatives to the High Cost of Topicals for Pain Management

September 01 2023

Emergency Department

Hamm’s assertion that high-cost topicals are unnecessarily driving up costs is backed by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), which completed a study in December 2021 that found the cost of some topicals for pain management is increasing the cost of workers’ compensation claims dramatically in some states.

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Impact of long COVID on the workplace in Massachusetts

August 31 2023

Emergency Department

A recent report looked at the prevalence of long COVID and how it is affecting the worker compensation system. The report, by the Cambridge-based Workers Compensation Research Institute, looked at compensation claims between March 2020 and September 2021 and found that 6% of workers who were infected by COVID-19 received treatment for long COVID.

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WCRI Study Examines Impact of Workforce Changes on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes

August 31 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, August 31, 2023 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found the recent economic trends and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had important impacts on the workers’ compensation system.

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Talking Points: State seeks federal money for four big transportation projects

August 21 2023

Emergency Department

Six percent of workers who filed workers’ compensation claims for catching COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2021 have also received care for Long COVID, according to a new report. Of these workers, many of them continued receiving medical care for ongoing symptoms a year after their infections, researchers at the Cambridge-based Workers Compensation Research Institute say, citing work that involved data from 31 states.

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Workers’ comp researchers examine long COVID

August 21 2023

Emergency Department

Six percent of workers who filed workers’ compensation claims for catching COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2021 have also received care for Long COVID, according to a new report.

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Long COVID is real, “social inflation” is not.

August 18 2023

Emergency Department

WCRI’s report on long COVID’s impact on work comp was release, examining claims with an average of 18 months post-infection…my takeaways include...

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Long COVID present in 6% of comp claims: study

August 17 2023

Emergency Department

Six percent of workers with compensation claims for COVID-19 developed long COVID, according to a study released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

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WCRI: Long COVID Affected 6 Percent of Workers with COVID-19 Claims in 2020 and 2021

August 17 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, August 17, 2023 – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that 6 percent of workers with COVID-19 developed long COVID, and many of these workers continued receiving medical care a year after their infections. This study expands prior evidence from early in the pandemic, showing persistent rates of long COVID for infections through 2021.

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WCRI Webinar on Medical Inflation in Workers’ Compensation

August 14 2023

Emergency Department

Join the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) for a 30-min. webinar on Wed., Sept. 6, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET as authors Olesya Fomenko and Rebecca Yang discuss findings and answer questions from Insights into Medical Inflation in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport.

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CCC: Shifting Treatment Patterns Bringing More Expensive Auto Injury Treatments Earlier On

August 14 2023

Emergency Department

The Workers Compensation Research Institute reported earlier this month that the cost of medical care in workers’ comp dipped during the pandemic. Inflation for both work comp treatment and health care in general hasn’t tracked the rate of inflation for the economy as a whole, WCRI said.

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WI DWD: Worker’s Compensation Premiums Continue to Decline

August 09 2023

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The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development recently announced that Wisconsin companies will pay 8.4% less in worker’s compensation insurance rates starting Oct. 1, 2023, benefiting businesses around the state.

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Physician dispensing in work comp is roaring back

August 07 2023

Emergency Department

mostly because insurers and employers have a been asleep at the switch.

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WCRI: Inflation Not a Big Deal for Workers’ Comp, Yet

August 04 2023

Emergency Department

While fast-rising prices in the past year drove up claim costs for auto and property insurers, inflation has been a more ho-hum affair for the workers’ compensation line and health care in general, according to a new report by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.

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Lower worker’s comp rates will save state employers $148M

August 04 2023

Emergency Department

Wisconsin companies will pay 8.4% less in worker’s compensation insurance rates starting Oct. 1, benefiting businesses around the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

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No evidence overall inflation effected comp medical costs: Report

August 03 2023

Emergency Department

While consumer prices for energy, food and housing between 2021 and 2022 saw drastic increases, there’s little evidence such inflationary pressures affected workers compensation medical costs, according to a report released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

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WCRI: No Evidence of a Steep Medical Price Growth in Workers’ Compensation during the Recent Inflationary Period

August 03 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, August 3, 2023 – The steep growth in consumer prices for energy, food, and housing over the last few years created concerns about potential rising inflation in medical care. A new Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study found that, overall, there was no evidence of faster growth in workers’ compensation medical prices and payments in most states over the high inflation period of 2021-2022.

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The Grand Bargain: Delving into the Evolution of Workers’ Compensation

August 02 2023

Emergency Department

Earlier this year, the Workers' Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) served as the backdrop for a comprehensive and illuminating presentation on the evolution of workers' compensation. Presented by Price V. Fishback, a Ph.D. holder from the University of Arizona, the discourse explored the multifaceted journey of workers' compensation from its nascent stages to its present state. Fishback's exposition particularly zeroed in…

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Upcoming lower worker’s compensation rates to save Wisconsin employers $148M

August 01 2023

Emergency Department

Wisconsin companies will pay 8.4% less in worker’s compensation insurance rates starting Oct. 1, benefiting businesses around the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

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Save The Date - 2024 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 5-6 in Boston, MA

July 26 2023

Emergency Department

Please save the date for the WCRI 40th Annual Issues & Research Conference, March 5-6, 2024, at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston. Our two-day program highlights presentations of WCRI's latest research findings while drawing upon the diverse perspectives of highly respected workers' compensation experts and policymakers from across the country.

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Alabama Firefighter Dies, Another Wounded After Attack at Fire House

July 25 2023

Emergency Department

An Alabama firefighter who was shot inside his fire station will be laid to rest today, providing a small measure of closure after what authorities have called a targeted attack that left another fireman critically wounded.

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Extended Use of Physical Medicine for Low Back Pain: A Comprehensive Study by Workers’ Compensation Research Institute

July 25 2023

Emergency Department

In March 2023, Dongchun Wang from the Workers' Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) presented a study on the extended use of physical medicine for low back pain claims in 28 states across the United States. The study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and severity indicators associated with this type of treatment.

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If a worker dies on the job, many states limit surviving spouse workers’ compensation

July 20 2023

Emergency Department

Tennessee’s workers’ compensation laws are now similar to a number of other states, said Karen Rothkin with the Workers Compensation Research Institute. “23 states plus D.C. and the two federal programs already give remarried spouses about two years of further benefits,” said Rothkin. “Most of them in a lump sum.”

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View from the top: Ramona Tanabe, Workers Compensation Research Institute

July 12 2023

Emergency Department

In May, Ramona Tanabe became president and CEO of the Workers Compensation Research Institute, where she began working in 1996. During her tenure, she has helped the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based institute evaluate the workers comp industry by conducting studies on state policies and trends. Business Insurance Assistant Editor Louise Esola interviewed her recently on her work and what’s to come. Edited excerpts follow.

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WCRI: COVID-19 Pandemic Likely Contributed to Indemnity Benefit Trends in MA

June 09 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA – Indemnity benefits per claim in Massachusetts decreased 7 percent in 2021 following a sizeable increase in the previous year. Duration of temporary disability was a major driver of indemnity trends in both years, according to a recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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WCRI Releases 2023 Annual Report

June 09 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently announced that its 2023 WCRI Annual Report is now available on its website.

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that giant sucking sound…v3

June 01 2023

Emergency Department

WCRI’s latest research report on hospital costs is a must-read for anyone involved in work comp claims, medical management and actuarial issues. Kudos to Drs Olesya Fomenko and Rebecca Yang for their excellent work.

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Medicare pricing changes could cost comp

June 01 2023

Emergency Department

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently updated its reimbursement rates for medical services, and experts are monitoring how the changes may affect workers compensation medical fee schedules and insurance rates.

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WCRI to Discuss Findings From Back Pain Study in June 22 Webinar

May 31 2023

Emergency Department

The Workers Compensation Research Institute will discuss findings from a recent study about back pain during an hour-long webinar June 22.

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WCRI: Hospital Outpatient Payments Lower and Growing Slower in States with Fixed-Amount Fee Schedules

May 31 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 31, 2023 – During these times when rising hospital costs are a focus of public policy debates, a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that hospital outpatient payments are lower and growing slower in states with fixed-amount fee schedules.

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Physician consolidations can both hurt and help comp: Experts

May 25 2023

Emergency Department

As health care system mergers become more commonplace, workers compensation experts are monitoring how physician consolidations might affect issues such as medical costs, patient access and quality of care.

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WCRI: Pandemic May Have Played Role in Decrease of Medical Payments per Workers’ Compensation Claim in Virginia

May 23 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 30, 2023 – Medical payments per workers' compensation claim in Virginia at 12 months of maturity decreased 5.6 percent between 2019 and 2020 and 7.9 percent between 2020 and 2021, according to a recent study published by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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WCRI’s new leader speaks

May 19 2023

Emergency Department

One of my favorite people in workers’ comp is now heading up WCRI…I connected with Ramona Tanabe who was named President and CEO. making her the third leader of this august institution.

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Medical services pricing in comp varies among states: Study

May 19 2023

Emergency Department

States that don’t have workers compensation medical fee schedules for professional services tend to have much higher prices compared with states that have fee schedules, according to updated findings by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

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Seven Percent of Workers with COVID-19 Claims Developed Long COVID

May 18 2023

Emergency Department

A recent study, "Long COVID in the Workers' Compensation System Early in the Pandemic" from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examined the prevalence of long COVID among injured workers early in the pandemic by studying the COVID-19 workers' compensation claims that occurred between March 2020 and September 2020.

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WCRI: Pandemic Potentially Influencing TD Trends

May 18 2023

Emergency Department

Recent changes in the duration of temporary disability in Texas could reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic conditions, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

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WCRI: Substantial Variation Found in Prices Paid for Professional Medical Services to Treat Injured Workers in 36 States

May 18 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 18, 2023 ― Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released an updated version of its study that compares prices paid for a similar set of medical professional services for treating injured workers across 36 states and monitors price changes from 2008 to 2022.

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WCRI: Changes in Texas Duration of Temporary Disability May Relate to COVID-19 Pandemic

May 16 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 16, 2023 – Trends in indemnity components in Texas differed between 2016 and 2021, though wages of workers with injuries grew more than 3 percent per year from 2016 to 2019, according to a recent study published by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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WCRI Webinar to Examine Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule Design

May 12 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently announced that it will be hosting a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET on its study Designing Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedules, 2022.

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7 Questions for WCRI’s New CEO Ramona Tanabe

May 11 2023

Emergency Department

Ramona Tanabe assumed the role of WCRI’s CEO in May 2023. She shares her thoughts, her goals and career wins that have led her to this position.

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Employers Grappling With Changing Workplace Where Labor Is Scarce & Workers Feel Isolated

May 10 2023

Emergency Department

A national labor shortage has created ideal conditions for skilled workers to negotiate for better pay and more flexible work schedules, but also new challenges for employers: Staff members aren’t eager to return to the office; job applicants are demanding higher wages; and mental health has deteriorated for many, in some cases transforming star employees into personnel problems.

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WCRI: COVID-19 Pandemic Likely Contributed to the Trends in Indemnity Benefits in Massachusetts

May 09 2023

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, May 9, 2023 – Indemnity benefits per claim in Massachusetts decreased 7 percent in 2021 following a sizeable increase in the previous year. Duration of temporary disability was a major driver of indemnity trends in both years, according to a recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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WCRI: Total Costs per Workers’ Comp Claim in IL Changed Little During Pandemic

May 09 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA – The average total cost per claim in Illinois changed little between 2019 and 2021 for injuries evaluated as of the first quarter of 2022, according to a recent study published by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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Illinois comp medical utilization dropped in 2020: Study

May 02 2023

Emergency Department

The utilization of nonhospital and hospital outpatient services in the Illinois workers compensation system decreased in 2020, the drop attributed to medical facility closures and service limitations during the beginning of the pandemic, according to a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

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WCRI: Total Costs per Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois Changed Little during the Pandemic

May 02 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 2, 2023 – The average total cost per claim in Illinois changed little between 2019 and 2021 for injuries evaluated as of the first quarter of 2022, according to a recent study published by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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Message from WCRI CEO Ramona Tanabe

May 01 2023

Emergency Department

Today, I am honored and excited to officially begin my role as the new president and CEO of the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). I am grateful to my predecessor, friend, and colleague John Ruser for his contributions of eight years. I want to thank the WCRI Board of Directors for their confidence in choosing me to lead WCRI into our next phase.

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2023 WCRI Annual Report Now Available

April 27 2023

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, April 27, 2023 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that its 2023 WCRI Annual Report is now available on its website. The report takes a comprehensive look at all of the Institute’s activities in 2022, from the studies published to how that research was used by policymakers and other stakeholders.

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WCRI: Florida Costs per Claim Remained Stable in the First Two Years of COVID-19 Pandemic

April 25 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, April 25, 2023—Total costs per claim with more than seven days of lost time in Florida remained stable in 2020 and 2021, following moderate growth of 4–5 percent per year from 2016 to 2019, according to a recent study published by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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For injured workers in Mass., care isn’t easy to come by

April 19 2023

Emergency Department

Medical providers who treat injured employees in Massachusetts are paid by workers’ comp carriers according to rates established by the state. Those rates, which can be negotiated, haven’t been updated since 2009, and in many cases, providers’ payments from workers’ comp insurance are less than those from Medicare, which are notoriously low. Overall, workers’ comp rates in Massachusetts are 5 percent below state…

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WCRI: COVID-19 Pandemic Continues to Impact Indemnity Benefits and Medical Payments in Various States

April 18 2023

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, April 18, 2023 – A new series of 14 studies from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found medical payments per claim decreased while indemnity benefits per claim continued to grow in 2020 and 2021 in many states, likely reflecting the impact of changes in economic conditions and usage of medical care during the early COVID-19 pandemic period.

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WCRI: Injured Workers’ Emergency Room Use Varies Widely by State

April 17 2023

Emergency Department

Nearly a third of injured workers in Massachusetts sought treatment for strains and sprains in a hospital emergency room, while in California and Nevada only 10% did, according to a study by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.

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WCRI Releases National Inventory of State Regulations Affecting Prescription Drugs

April 04 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, April 4, 2023―Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released a new report that gathers in one place the numerous state regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states, including workers with injuries.

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WCRI: Consolidation of Health Care Driving Up Prices in Work Comp

April 03 2023

Emergency Department

Consolidation of physician services into larger groups owned by hospitals and health care systems is driving up the cost of care in workers’ compensation, according to a new study by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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Ramona Tanabe to Succeed John Ruser as New WCRI CEO

April 03 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, April 3, 2023―The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that executive vice president Ramona Tanabe has been named to succeed John Ruser as the new CEO of the Institute. She will assume responsibilities on May 1, 2023. Current CEO John Ruser has served in the position since 2015. John will stay on temporarily as advisor to the CEO to ensure a smooth transition.

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New WCRI Studies Monitor the Impact of Drug Formularies

March 30 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, March 30, 2023―A series of studies from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the impact of formularies on prescription drug utilization and costs in five states (Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York) that implemented formularies in 2018 and 2019. They also examine the effect on physician dispensing and generic utilization in states with applicable formulary rules.

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New WCRI Study Compares Physicians’ Involvement in the Workers’ Compensation System across 34 States

March 28 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, March 28, 2023―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) helps policymakers and stakeholders get an informed view about access to providers in their states by describing the medical workforce treating workers with injuries. The study shows how often physicians treat workers with injuries, examines the volume and the types of services that physicians provide, and examines how these providers fit within…

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Thank You for Attending WCRI’s 2023 Conference!

March 23 2023

Emergency Department

Thank you to all our speakers and attendees for making our 2023 WCRI Issues & Research Conference our best yet. We hope all our attendees enjoyed learning about our latest research, hearing from our well-regarded keynote speakers and panelists, and networking with our diverse audience. For those who attended, you still have time to download the slides from the conference app. Below are some articles and blog posts written about the…

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WCRI: Costs to Treat Injured Workers Increase 8 Percent after Physician Practices Are Acquired by Hospitals

March 16 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, March 16, 2023―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the impact of vertical integration of medical providers on payments for workers’ compensation care. In particular, it shows how payments for care provided by physicians to workers with injuries changed after hospitals and health systems acquired physician practices.

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Who Should Attend 2023 Issues & Research Conference?

March 14 2023

Emergency Department

A question we often get about our annual conference is who should attend? The answer is, anyone working to improve workers’ compensation systems or seeking to manage a changing environment will benefit. Better yet, take a look at the more than 200 organizations registered for our 2023 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 21-22 in Phoenix, AZ.

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Panel to Discuss the Impact of the Labor Shortage at 2023 WCRI Conference

March 02 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, March 2, 2023― Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shared information about a panel on the “Impact of the Labor Shortage” that will be held at its 2023 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 21-22 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, Arizona.

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WCRI Identifies Factors Associated with Extended Use of Physical Medicine Services

March 01 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, March 1, 2023―Extended physical medicine (PM) use was relatively frequent in most study states and less coordination of care was among the key factors associated with a higher likelihood of having extended PM use, finds a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

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WCRI Announces Panel on Changes in the Workplace at 2023 Conference

February 16 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Feb. 16, 2023― Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shared information about a panel on “Changes in the Workplace” that will be held at its 2023 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 21-22 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, AZ. The conference theme is "Disruption, Resilience, and Evolution."

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WCRI: Patient-Reported Outcomes Offer New Insights into Workers’ Recoveries

February 14 2023

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, Feb. 14, 2023―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that workers’ compensation patients with low back pain reported lower improvements in functional status score following physical therapy than patients covered by other payment systems.

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Noted Labor Economist David Autor to Keynote 2023 WCRI Conference

February 07 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Feb. 7, 2022― The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that acclaimed MIT economist David Autor will keynote the 2023 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 21-22 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, AZ.

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New WCRI Study Finds that 7 Percent of Workers with COVID-19 Claims Developed Long COVID

January 26 2023

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Jan. 26, 2023―A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that 7 percent of workers with COVID-19 claims received treatment for long COVID after the acute period of the infection. While long COVID prevalence was the highest among workers who were hospitalized during an acute stage of disease, even some workers with limited medical care early after the infection developed long COVID symptoms.

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WCRI: Emergency Department Use among Injured Workers Varied across States

December 19 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Dec. 19, 2022―A new 28-state study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found substantial variation across states in the rates of emergency department (ED) use among workers seeking care for new injuries during the period from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2021.

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WCRI Shares Research at NIOSH Center for Workers’ Compensation Meeting

November 22 2022

Emergency Department

The NIOSH Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies is hosting a meeting on December 8 to discuss recent findings, new prevention activities, and to share analysis practices. Among those on the agenda are WCRI CEO John Ruser, who will be discussing the Institute's long COVID-19 research, and WCRI VP of Research Sebastian Negrusa, who will be discussing the Institute's research on behavioral health in workers' compensation.…

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WCRI Webinar: Behavioral Health in Workers’ Compensation

November 22 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Nov. 22, 2022 – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 30-minute webinar on its recent study A Primer on Behavioral Health Care in Workers’ Compensation on Thursday Dec. 15, 2022, at 2pm ET.

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WCRI: Medical Payments per Claim in Indiana Decreased in 2020, Reflect Some Impact from the COVID-19 Pandemic

November 17 2022

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, Nov. 17, 2022―Medical payments per claim decreased in Indiana for 2020 injuries with experience through March 2021 after growing in 2019, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This fluctuation in medical payments, in part, reflects factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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World Diabetes Day 2022

November 14 2022

Emergency Department

On this World Diabetes Day, we look back at past WCRI research that found injured workers with diabetes, when interviewed 2.5 years after injury, had a 4 percentage point higher rate of not working compared to workers without diabetes. Click here to read an article in Insurance Journal.

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Medical Payments per Workers’ Compensation Claim in Michigan Decreased 4 Percent in 2020, Reflect Impact from COVID-19

November 10 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Nov. 10, 2022―The average medical payment per claim decreased 4 percent in Michigan for 2020 injuries with experience through March 2021, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This reflects factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the earlier period from 2015 to 2019, medical payments per claim grew 4 percent per year.

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WCRI: Indemnity Benefits in New York Grew 10 Percent in 2020/2021, Reflects, in Part, Impact of COVID-19

October 20 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 20, 2022 ― A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that indemnity benefits per claim grew 10 percent for 2020 non-COVID-19 claims evaluated in 2021 (2020/2021 claims) after being mostly stable since 2015 in New York. Medical payments per claim decreased 5 percent in 2020/2021, following a rapid increase the previous year. Both the increase in indemnity benefits and decrease in medical…

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Delaware Workers’ Compensation System the Focus of Upcoming WCRI Webinar

October 19 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Oct. 19, 2022 ― The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 30-minute webinar on Nov. 17, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET on its study Trends in the Delaware Workers’ Compensation System, 2015–2020.

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​WCRI: Medical Payments per Claim in Florida Decreased 5 Percent in 2020, Reflect Some Impact from the COVID-19 Pandemic

October 13 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 13, 2022 ― Medical payments per claim decreased 5 percent in Florida for 2020 injuries with experience through March 2021, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This likely reflects factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the earlier period from 2015 to 2019, medical payments per claim grew 4–5 percent per year.

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Registration Now Open for 2023 WCRI Conference

October 12 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Oct. 12, 2022―Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced registration is now open for the Institute’s 39th Annual Issues & Research Conference, March 21-22, 2023. This year’s conference is being held in person at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

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WCRI’s 39th Annual Issues & Research Conference

October 07 2022

Emergency Department

Our two-day program highlights presentations of WCRI's latest research findings while drawing upon the diverse perspectives of highly respected workers' compensation experts and policymakers from across the country.

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WCRI: Medical Payments Decreased in Half the Study States in 2020, Due to COVID-19

October 06 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, October 6, 2022 ― Medical payments per claim decreased more than 3 percent in half the 18 study states for 2020 injuries with experience through March 2021, according to a new set of studies by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This likely reflects factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the earlier period from 2015 to 2019, medical payments per claim were stable or grew moderately across the study…

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2022 WCRI Staff Volunteer Outing

September 26 2022

Emergency Department

Today, WCRI staff volunteered at Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary to help them prepare for the 2023 season. WCRI staff tackled various gardening tasks around the sanctuary, including weeding and sweeping accessible paths. It was a fantastic way to give back to the community by helping conservation efforts, while also getting fresh air and connecting with colleagues.

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WCRI: Data Supports That Delaware Has Met the Medical Expenses Reduction Goal Set Out in HB 373

September 14 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Sept. 14, 2022 — A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found the average medical payment per claim (regardless of the claim maturity and claim base [all claims or lost-time claims]) decreased about 33 percent between 2014 and 2017 in Delaware, which was the main goal of House Bill (HB) 373.

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Latest Drug Trends in 28 States the Focus of Upcoming Free WCRI Webinar

September 01 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, Sept. 1, 2022 ― The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 45-minute webinar on Sept. 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET on its FlashReport, Interstate Variation and Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments: 2018Q1 to 2021Q1. Two of the study’s authors, Dr. Vennela Thumula and Dongchun Wang, will discuss its key findings and take audience questions.

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WCRI: Psychosocial Factors Can Act as Barriers to Recovery Following a Work-Related Injury

August 16 2022

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, August 16, 2022 – As concerns about behavioral health problems increased in recent years, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) heard through system stakeholder interviews that early screening for psychosocial risk factors is important to prevent delayed recovery.

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WCRI: Designing a Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule Involves a Delicate Balance

June 28 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, June 28, 2022 – As policymakers seek to implement or change price controls in their state workers’ compensation system with a fee schedule, a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) highlights the important design choices faced in adopting, reforming, and updating them.

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WCRI: Use of Telemedicine for E&M Services Still Higher in 2021 than Prior to the Pandemic, but Physical Medicine Closer to the Pre-Pandemic Level

June 23 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, June 23, 2022 — Following the substantial increase in the second quarter of 2020 (2020Q2), use of telemedicine decreased starting in 2020Q3 and stabilized in subsequent quarters. According to a new Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) FlashReport, telemedicine’s share of evaluation and management (E&M) services was still higher at 3 percent in 2021Q1 as compared with 0.2 percent pre-pandemic, while the…

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Dermatological Agents Continue to Increase as Opioids Decline for Workplace Injuries, Finds New WCRI Study

June 16 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, June 16, 2022 ― A new FlashReport from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that in several states, payments for dermatological agents continued to increase, driven by increased dispensing of higher-priced drug products either from physicians’ offices or from mail-order pharmacies.

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WCRI: Hospital Outpatient Payments at Least 60% Higher in Most States without Fixed-Amount Fee Schedules

May 31 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 31, 2022 – Hospital outpatient payments were higher and growing faster in states with percent-of-charge-based fee regulations or no fee schedules, finds a study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The study, the latest in an annual series, compares hospital payments for a group of common outpatient surgeries in workers’ compensation across 36 states from 2005 to 2020.

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WCRI: Prices Paid for Similar Professional Medical Services for Treating Injured Workers Varied Significantly across 36 States

May 26 2022

Emergency Department

​Cambridge, MA, May 26, 2022 ― Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released an updated version of its study that compares prices paid for medical professional services across 36 states and monitors price changes from 2008 to 2021, which includes just over a year of medical services delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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WCRI Hosts Webinar on Patterns and Outcomes of Chiropractic Care

May 25 2022

Emergency Department

Cambridge, MA, May 24, 2022 —The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will hold a 60-minute webinar on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss findings from a recently published WCRI study Chiropractic Care for Workers with Low Back Pain.

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