Industry Issues | Workers Compensation
Workers Compensation

Balance Critical to Workers Compensation Systems

Workers compensation insurance provides medical and monetary benefits for workers who are injured or become ill on the job. State workers compensation systems are designed to balance the interests of injured employees who need medical care and replacement income and employers that seek a predictable and insurable cost structure to accommodate employees' needs.

PCI supports proposals that are fair to all stakeholders and carry out the primary goal of workers compensation, which is to provide injured workers the best care available, so they can return to work as soon as they are able and continue to be productive members of our society.

Workers Compensation Trends

Medical Costs Escalating medical costs, which represent nearly 60 percent of total workers compensation losses, are disrupting the balance in many workers compensation systems. As a result, states are searching for ways to control medical costs. The following factors are contributing to escalating medical costs: Increases in the number of treatments per claim Medical cost inflation Volume of prescriptions being written by physicians Over-prescribing of narcotic drugs An aging workforce Medical technology Close

Legislative Trends PCI is prepared to work with the business community to address a wide variety of workers compensation issues ranging from very specific improvements to defending against measures that would increase costs to considering reforms that would encourage competitive marketplaces. Close

Links

Work Comp Analysis Group on LinkedIn

PCI Workers Compensation Compliance Charts

The National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc.

Workers Compensation Research Institute

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services