A CWCI study simulates the financial impacts of proposals to overhaul employer-provided workers’ comp, health, and disability benefits — including several that would merge workers’ comp and employer-provided medical benefits into a single program.

The cost of employer-sponsored group medical plans would increase as much as $16.7 billion if coverage were extended to all California employees and their dependents according to a study completed by William M. Mercer, Inc. for the Institute.

Summary of a CWCI Research Update analyzing the potential impact of mandating the merger of workers’ compensation medical and group medical coverages under a single plan — a key element of 24-hour coverage proposals.

A CWCI study uses an integrated health care database to quantify the costs and savings of applying group medical managed care (deductibles, coinsurance and copayments) in worers’ comp. The analysis suggests that group medical managed care would dramatically change patterns of treatment and utilization of medical services for work injuries.

A CWCI analysis of all 1998 workers’ comp inpatient hospitalizations in California shows that overall, workers’ comp admissions tend to be less clinically severe and require fewer resources than those billed under group health or Medicare.

CWCI’s summary of AB 749 , the 2002 workers’ comp reform bill that included temporary disability, permanent disability, and death benefit increases estimated to boost payments to injured workers by nearly $3.5 billion by 2006, as well structural reforms expected to save $1.5 billion.

CWCI research documenting the rise in the cost of pharmaceuticals in California workers’ comp that led to 2002 legislation calling for a pharmacy fee schedule and authorizing payors to contract with pharmacy benefit managers. The study provides background on the issue of pharmaceutical benefit delivery, reimbursement and management in California workers’ Comp.

Amid growing concern about the misclassification and under reporting of work injuries and illnesses — including 1st aid cases –the Dept of Insurance issued a notice to remind employers, physicians and insurers about required reporting procedures.

A CWCI study looks at relationships between medical provider experience in California workers’ comp and claim outcomes — including benefit payments; length of disability; the proportion of medical-only, indemnity and permanent disability cases; and the level of attorney involvement.

A CWCI study finds that despite declines in claim frequency and the proportion of California work injury cases involving chiropractic care, chiropractic costs in workers’ comp soared between 1993 and 2000 due to significant increases in the number of visits and the number and variety of procedures used per chiropractic claim.

A summary of the key provisions of AB 227 and SB 228, the 2003 legislative “overhaul” of the workers’ comp system passed by the California Legislature and signed by Governor Davis.

California workers’ comp was designed on a no-fault premise, but a CWCI study finds attorney involvement has become ingrained in the system and is occurring earlier in the life of the claim and in more than three out of four permanent disability cases.