Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Several states have seen precipitous decreases in the amount of opioids dispensed per claim. KY, NY, MD, and MI all saw reductions in excess of 35%. In every one of the states WCRI studed, at least 30% of patients with … Continue reading Opioid use in work comp has dropped – and cannabis does reduce chronic pain
Read More...Two immutable truths were behind much of ACA’s original construction. These same truths are giving Republicans seeking to repeal/replace major heartburn. First, healthcare is the single largest part of America’s economy. One out of every six (soon to be five) dollars … Continue reading ACA Deathwatch: Two Immutable Truths
Read More...It’s not just ACA; the new Administration’s changes to OSHA, the Department of Labor, immigration policy, trade, and myriad other programs and policies will significantly affect workers’ comp. This is the first of an occasional look at these “Other Effects”. … Continue reading Other Effects; an occasional look at how the new Administration’s affecting workers’ comp
Read More...Today’s HealthWonkReview has a series of posts on: the current status of the ACA repeal process, implications thereof, GOP plans to pass a replacement and Dems’ plan to thwart Reps’ moves to kill ACA insurers’ reactions, providers’ reactions, and what … Continue reading Cutting thru the ACA repeal confusion
Read More...Workers comp and Medicaid are intertwined. First, a few factoids about Medicaid. Medicaid accounts for about 17% of US medical spend (work comp is about 1%) It is very state-specific; states have a lot of control over who and what’s covered. … Continue reading Workers comp and Medicaid – Implications aplenty!
Read More...There’s no question the Republican sweep will hugely affect workers’ comp. There are nothing BUT questions about what that impact will be. Here are a few thoughts based on what little we know so far. The quick take – huge … Continue reading Trump and workers’ comp
Read More...Medical costs were up a mere 3% in 2014, and actually dropped by a point in 2015 (in NCCI states). I’ve been in comp a long time, and nothing like this has ever happened. What’s going on? One likely contributor … Continue reading Why are work comp medical costs decreasing?
Read More...After discussing yesterday’s meeting at the Dept. of Labor with several colleagues and reviewing notes, here are my key takeaways. lots of talk about benefit adequacy lots of concern about work comp not covering real costs of disability much reminiscing about the … Continue reading Takeaways from DOL’s State Workers’ Compensation Report
Read More...Is set for release at a public meeting in Washington this Wednesday, October 5, at 10 AM. While the content has been closely held, sources indicate topics include: increasing inadequacy of benefits, restrictions on medical care for injured workers, new procedural … Continue reading The Department of Labor’s report on workers’ comp
Read More...Perhaps the biggest factor driving workers’ comp is the economy, and more specifically employment trends. In a down economy, payroll declines, claims cost increase, and it’s harder for recovering workers to find new jobs, resulting in longer disability duration. The … Continue reading Big things that affect work comp
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