Quarterly Newsletter: April 1 - June 30, 2019
California State Capital
Where Our Work Was Used

In states large and small, our research continues to be actively used by a diverse group of public officials and stakeholders, resulting in better, more informed decision making. Below is a sample of how our work was used over the last three months.

  • California: At a hearing of the California State Assembly's Insurance Committee, Diane Worley of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association cited the WCRI FlashReport—Time from Injury to Medical Treatment: How States Compare, as she spoke in favor of AB 1107.
  • California: The California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) cited our study Interstate Variations in Use of Opioids, 4th Edition in a study they published titled "Early Indicators of High-Risk Opioid Use and Potential Alternative Treatments."
  • Georgia: Chairman Frank McKay of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation hosts educational seminars throughout the state. His opening slides for each seminar contain research findings from WCRI's CompScope™ Benchmarks for Georgia study to explain some of the reasons why the Legislature is increasing the maximum weekly disability indemnity benefit.
  • National: Amtrust Financial published a report, "Amtrust Opioid Prescription Risk Report," that cited our study The Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability.
  • National: Attorney Wayne Fontana referenced WCRI's CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 19th Edition as part of a panel of defense attorneys discussing issues around the country (CA, FL, IL, LA, and NY) at the 2019 National Council of Self-Insurers Annual Meeting.
  • National: The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (FRBSF) posted a short video on their blog that includes findings from The Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability.
  • New York: Two of our studies (Comparing Outcomes for Injured Workers in Michigan and Monitoring the Impact of the 2007 Reforms in New York) were cited in a report by the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. The title of the report is "Time for a Real Look at How the New York State Workers’ Compensation System Treats Workers."
  • Pennsylvania: Senior Judge Joseph De Rita cited our opioids studies, in the context of how judges handle opioid cases that come before them, in a "Judges Unplugged" session at the 18th Annual Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Conference.
  • Wisconsin: Chris Reader, a member of the Workers Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, cited our research about the cost of medical care for injured workers during a WCAC meeting.
Educating Policymakers

Below is a sample of the policymakers we briefed or shared our research with over the last three months.

  • Alabama Workers' Compensation Division
  • Delaware House of Representatives
  • Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
  • Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
  • Louisiana Legislative Auditor
  • Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents
  • Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation
  • U.S. Department of Labor
  • U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Finance
  • Utah Workers' Compensation Advisory Council
  • Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
  • Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau
  • Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
People discussing our research.
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WCRI In The News

 Below is a sample of the press coverage our research received over the last three months.

Member Spotlight: Bill Londrigan, Kentucky AFL-CIO

Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with one of our members—Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky AFL-CIO—about how he came to know WCRI. Bill has been president of the state’s largest labor organization since 1999. Before becoming state AFL-CIO president, he was secretary-treasurer-business manager of the Greater Louisville Building and Construction Trades Council and a delegate to the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council. He is a member of Louisville Elevator Constructors Local 20. 

Recorded Webinar: Correlates of Opioid Dispensing in Workers’ Compensation

In this free one-hour webinar that took place on April 18, 2019, WCRI provided an overview of its latest research on opioid dispensing to injured workers, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) highlighted the comprehensive steps it is taking to assist workers and employers facing the opioid misuse and overdose crisis, and to protect first responders on the front line of the epidemic.