At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, Dr. John Ruser, WCRI, talked about the variety of factors contributing to the trend of workers’ compensation benefits being a declining share of the payroll. According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, the ratio of workers’ compensation benefits paid to total wages has dropped since the 1990s and […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, a session discussed the challenges and opportunities of telemedicine. The panel was: Moderator: Dr. David Deitz, David Deitz & Associates Speakers: Ms. Amy Lee, Texas Department of Insurance Mr. Kurt Leisure, The Cheesecake Factory Mr. Dan Allen, Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) Dr. Stephen Dawkins, Caduceus USA Telemedicine is […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, a session discussed some of the latest findings and trends seen across WCRI’s core benchmark studies, including WCRI’s 18-state CompScope™ Benchmarks reports. The presenters were: Moderator: Ms. Ramona P. Tanabe, WCRI Speakers: Ms. Carol A. Telles, WCRI, Facility Costs and Use: Factors in Interstate Differences and Trends  Ms. Evelina Radeva, […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, Dr. Olesya Fomenko, WCRI, discussed their study on how higher deductibles for group health plans may impact workers’ compensation claims activity. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, the average group health plan deductible in 2008 was $765. In 2014 that number was $1217 and by 2017 that number […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference a session discussed efforts in Washington State and Washington DC to promote return to work following a work injury. The speakers were: Moderator: Dr. John W. Ruser, WCRI Speakers: Ms. Jennifer Sheehy, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Prof. Tom Wickizer, University of Washington School […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, a session discussed a variety of research and efforts relating to the opioid epidemic. Moderator: Mr. Tim Hassett-Salley, WCRI Speakers: Dr. Vennela Thumula, WCRI Dr. Letitia Davis, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Ms. Jacqueline Kurth, Industrial Commission of Arizona Mr. Jason Porter, Industrial Commission of Arizona WCRI Research Older […]

At the 2019 WCRI Annual Conference, Dr. John W. Ruser, WCRI and Prof. Alan Kruegar, Princeton University, kicked off the conference with a keynote focused on the opioid epidemic, participation in the US labor force, and the state of the US economy. Opioid Epidemic The opioid overdose rate in the US has been steadily climbing since […]