WC Cost Containment

Medical-Marijuana Acceptance Is Getting Close, But Obstacles Remain

Cannabis shows promise as a non-opioid treatment for pain, but dosing uncertainty and the plant’s Schedule 1 status will need to be resolved first.

Workers’ Comp Leaders Embrace Progressive Thinking to Reduce Medical Spend

3 Easy Steps You Can Take Today to Avoid Workers’ Comp Claims Litigation

One Powerful Way to Dissolve Claim-Settlement Resistance and Protect Injured Workers

Why Workers’ Comp Professionals Are Linking Health and Safety Practices

Here’s Why Value-Based Care Is the Medical Approach Workers’ Comp Needs to Embrace

Recently in WC Cost Containment

WC Payers More Likely To Face Reimbursement Requirements for Pot

A New Mexico appeals court decision ordering an employer and insurer to reimburse an injured worker for his medical marijuana is believed to be the first such court ruling in the nation.

Fee Schedules Do Their Job, Despite Expensive Care

While payments for workers’ comp care tend to be much higher than group health, physician fee schedules still help to keep costs consistent and contained.

Physician-Dispensed Opioids Double WC Costs, Days Off

A new study suggests a correlation between physician-dispensed medication and poor outcomes, especially when opioids are involved.

State Variation in Opioid Painkiller Prescribing Detailed

Health issues causing pain don’t very from place to place, but the number of opioid painkillers prescribed do.

Oklahoma Option Goes Live

All eyes are on Oklahoma now that the state has begun to approve carriers to quote business under the reformed workers’ comp system.

Reports Shed Light on Latest Targets of PBMs

Pharmacy benefit managers are looking beyond opioids to identify other key risks negatively impacting costs and outcomes.

Growing Temp Workforce Faces Highest Risks

Why staffing agencies — and their clients — need to step up safety training.

Better Prescribing Through Technology

A growing number of physicians are turning to pharmacogenetics to evaluate how workers’ comp claimants will respond to prescription drugs based on a patient’s genetic makeup.

Monitoring the Impact of Age and Work-Related Injuries

Regardless of industry type, older workers generate consistently higher average workers’ comp costs.

ACA Driving Interest in Benefits Integration

More leaders are looking past the organization’s silos in search of gains in health care and workers’ comp performance.

Top Seven Perceived Risks That Worry U.S. Businesses

Travelers Risk Index reveals medical cost inflation concerns business owners and executives most.

Grading the Doctor

Doctors are interested in finding out how they compare to their peers.

WC Reform Impact Likely Modest in California

Experts say the latest round of WC reforms in California will not rival the success of reforms established a decade ago.

State Law Exacerbates Fraud Among Peace Officers

Workers’ comp fraud has been on the rise in California ever since probation officers were included under the state’s vexing labor law.

Physician Fee Schedule Impact Not Always as Intended

A new study examines the circumstances undermining the effectiveness of physician fee schedules.

Opioid Issues Generate Increased Discussion, Activity

Experts applaud progress in the battle against opioid abuse, but warn there is more work to be done.

Employers Warned Not to Incentivize Texting and Driving

OSHA is urging employers to abolish procedures that force workers to text while driving in order to carry out their duties.

Rely on Numbers, Not Behavior, to Cut Lifting Risks

To reduce ergonomic exposures, employers must be willing to factor in key numbers.

Handling Claims Right, From the Start

Proper claim screening can reduce misclassification and unnecessary costs.

States Eyeing Texas-Style Formularies

The success of Texas’ closed formulary for workers’ comp is piquing the interest of other states seeking savings.

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