Workers' Compensation

Recent Posts

Dr. Peter Barth on 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation: Progress and Unmet Goals Mark Centennial
Posted on 28 Nov 2011 by John Stahl

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute kicked off its November 16-17, 2011 Annual Conference with reviewing the first 100 years of workers’ compensation. Workers’ Compensation guru Dr. Peter Barth provided a Centennial 60 Minutes... Read More

WCRI Continues to Build Baseline to Monitor Impact of California’s Workers’ Compensation Reforms
Posted on 18 May 2014 by Thomas A. Robinson

But the $64,000 question is whether IMR will actually reduce medical costs As proponents and critics of controversial Senate Bill 863–California’s latest legislative effort to “reform” the state’s workers’ compensation... Read More

Unnecessary Litigation in Workers’ Comp Claims Process: Training and Communication Are Key
Posted on 11 May 2012 by John Stahl

By John Stahl, Esq. Dr. Bogdan Savych of the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) said at the outset of his May 10, 2012 webinar entitled “Avoiding Litigation: What Can Employers, Payers and States Do” that the goals of... Read More

Opt Outs Panels at WCRI Conference Sidestep Unresolved Issues of How States Can Relinquish Control of Workers’ Compensation
Posted on 25 Mar 2016 by Jennifer Jordan

Opt-out cannot become a viable alternative to problematic state systems until a reasonable balance is attained between the interests of injured workers and employers alike By Jennifer C. Jordan, Esq., General Counsel, MEDVAL LLC As opt-out discussions... Read More

Five Good Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Miss WCRI’s 31st Annual Conference
Posted on 6 Feb 2015 by Karen C. Yotis

Anyone familiar with the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s 31-year history of providing the data and analysis that industry mavericks rely upon to understand, manage and effect real change have come to expect WCRI conferences to provide... Read More

Affordable Care Act Case-Shifting Incentives May Result in Increased Medical Costs for Workers’ Compensation
Posted on 2 Oct 2015 by Thomas A. Robinson

As incentives within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) push more and more patients toward so-called “capitated” health insurance plans—in which payments are “prospectively” made to health care providers... Read More

WCRI Study Says California Saw Five Percent Decrease in Medical Payments Per Claim in 2013
Posted on 11 Oct 2015 by Thomas A. Robinson

According to a study recently released by Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), California enjoyed a five percent decrease in medical payments per workers’ compensation claim in 2013 on a year-over-year basis, likely reflecting... Read More

WCRI Conference Focuses on Combating the Opioid Epidemic
Posted on 10 Mar 2017 by Deborah Kohl

By Deborah G. Kohl, Esq. The last several years have seen the “opioid epidemic” become the hot topic in the workers’ compensation industry. It is a problem that everyone from elected officials, government agencies, insurance carriers... Read More

Workers’ Compensation and the Future: The Macro Versus the Micro View
Posted on 28 Mar 2018 by Deborah Kohl

By Deborah G. Kohl, Esq., Fall River, MA Over the past several weeks, practitioners in the field have been discussing what the workers’ compensation should or might look like in the future. For example, at one conference, an interesting discussion... Read More

Drug Formularies, Texas Style: Coming Soon to a State Near You?
Posted on 13 Jul 2014 by Karen C. Yotis

Karen C. Yotis, Esq., a Feature Resident Columnist for the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation eNewsletter , provides insights into workplace issues and the nuts and bolts of the workers’ comp world. As policymakers, risk managers, and insurers... Read More

WCRI Study Strikes Serious Blow to Physician-Dispensed Strong Opioids
Posted on 8 Jan 2015 by Thomas A. Robinson

A significant proportion of physician-dispensed strong opioids may not have been necessary at all Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., the Feature National Columnist for the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation eNewsletter , is a leading commentator and expert... Read More

Does Medical Control Affect Overall Costs?
Posted on 4 May 2017 by Brad Wixen

The Surprising Results of a Recent WCRI Study Often, the subject of attempts to reform workers’ compensation focuses on matters of choice. Injured workers and their advocates allege that by providing them more choice, better treatment can be... Read More

WCRI Identifies Trust in the Workplace as a Key "Predictor" of Outcomes Important to Injured Workers
Posted on 6 Jul 2014 by Thomas A. Robinson

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., the Feature National Columnist of the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation eNewsletter , is a leading commentator and expert on the law of workers' compensation State Workers’ Comp Acts: Are They Effective? ... Read More

Truth and Consequences of the Affordable Care Act: Shifting of Patient Treatment From General Healthcare to Workers’ Compensation
Posted on 20 Mar 2015 by LexisNexis Workers' Comp Law Newsroom Staff

By Ryan Benharris, Esq. The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on National Workers’ Compensation was the leadoff session at the 2015 Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Convention. “Resilience or Renovation,” was... Read More

Dr. Peter Barth on 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation: Progress and Unmet Goals Mark Centennial
Posted on 28 Nov 2011 by John Stahl

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute kicked off its November 16-17, 2011 Annual Conference with reviewing the first 100 years of workers’ compensation. Workers’ Compensation guru Dr. Peter Barth provided a Centennial 60 Minutes... Read More