WCRI Quarterly Newsletter: 4th Quarter (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2018)
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.

  • National: The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) passed a model act on physician dispensing. In years past, NCOIL had invited WCRI to share our research with them on this important issue. Most recently, NCOIL invited WCRI to provide analysis of how other states had addressed the issue in light of their proposed model act.
  • Georgia: Chairman Frank McKay of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation sent the U.S. Attorney for Northern Georgia a letter regarding the inappropriate and over-prescribing of opioids to injured workers in Georgia. Included in the letter were findings from three WCRI studies.
  • Illinois: Two Illinois-based self-insurance pools that provide workers’ compensation insurance to over 200 local municipalities filed a joint lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and prescribers. WCRI’s research, The Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability, was cited in the complaint.
  • Massachusetts: Two of WCRI’s opioid studies (Interstate Variations in Use of Opioids, 4th Edition, and Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability) were cited in an Issue Brief for a forum on “Opioids in the Workforce” by the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum.
  • Minnesota: Findings from WCRI’s CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Minnesota, 19th Edition, were used in the Annual State of the Market presentation by the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Insurance Association.
Latest Research Published
People discussing our research.
Educating Diverse Groups 
Below is a sample of the conferences we presented our research at over the last three months.

  • 2018 Casualty Actuarial Society's Annual Meeting
  • 2018 Comp Laude® Awards and Gala
  • 2018 National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference® & Expo
  • IAIABC 104th Convention
WCRI In The News
news image
Below is a sample of the media coverage our research received over the last three months. 

Member Spotlight: Frank McKay, Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation
Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with one of our members—Frank McKay, chairman of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation—about how he came to know WCRI.

As chairman, Judge McKay also serves as the State Board's Chief Appellate Court Judge. Judge McKay came to the State Board of Workers' Compensation as chairman in 2013 from private practice where he concentrated in workers' compensation representing both employers, insured and self-insured, and injured employees.

Click here to learn more.
Recorded Webinar: Shift in Where Injured Workers Receive Medical Care
In the last decade or so, many medical services for injured workers have shifted from hospitals to nonhospital providers, including ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). These changes are an important factor underlying the trends in medical payments per claim.

Click here to watch WCRI's Dr. Rebecca Yang and Ms. Evelina Radeva discuss these trends, the potential contributing factors, and the implications in this hour-long recorded webinar. This webinar is free for members and available to non-members for a small fee.
One Conference You Don't Want to Miss!
There are less than two months left to register for WCRI's 35th Annual Issues & Research Conference , February 28 and March 1, 2019, in Phoenix, AZ. The following are a few of the topics we will be discussing:

  • Challenges and Opportunities of Telemedicine
  • Correlates of Opioid Prescribing and Overdose Deaths by Industry and Occupation
  • Group Health Deductibles and Workers' Compensation
  • How Unions and Management Can Create a Successful Return-to-Work Program
  • Innovative Ideas from Employers

Register by Feb. 9 and save $50-$100 on your registration. Also available for a limited time is a special rate of $269 per night at the conference hotel.  Register now to take advantage of these savings as well as the peace of mind of knowing your seat is reserved.
If there are ways we can make our newsletters more valuable for you and your organization, please let us know . In the meantime, thank you for your continued support.
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