Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The internet, smart phones, electric vehicles, 9/11, genome sequencing…a lot has changed since 1990. But in workers’ comp…not so much. About 30 years ago OUCH (now part of Coventry) started the national workers’ comp PPO business. Liberty Mutual execs (literally) … Continue reading Has anything changed?
Read More...A solid study found that the US infection rate is likely way higher than the official reports. The brainiacs at The Economist estimate almost one in every five of us has had the disease. Coincidentally, I was talking with a … Continue reading COVID – quick takes on the latest research
Read More...Finishing up the second survey report on the impact of COVID19 on workers’ comp and one takeaway has me shaking my head. There’s a lot more fear and trepidation about presumption than I think is warranted. Across the 24 payers … Continue reading Work comp is worried about the wrong thing.
Read More...Four months into the COVID pandemic, early data show workers’ comp insurers are doing the right thing. Two data sources support this assertion – CWCI’s just-released analysis of 1,077 California claims and a dozen conversations I’ve had with insurers, large … Continue reading Hey legislators…don’t do stupid stuff
Read More...Research published in HealthAffairs a study estimating COVID19 will cost somewhere between $164 billion and $654 billion. Insurance industry trade group AHIP’s financial analysts calculate private insurers will pay between $56 to $556 billion for COVID19-related costs. Kaiser Permanente in … Continue reading We don’t know &^%$*(
Read More...Happy Friday to all – here’s the non-COVID news of note from the week. The brilliant minds at WCRI aren’t slacking while WFH (working from home). Their latest is the 20th edition of the CompScope state-specific reports detailing the performance … Continue reading Friday catch-up
Read More...Workers’ comp is singularly ill-equipped to handle COVID-19…but some organizations are making solid progress The industry’s antipathy towards change, resistance to anything smacking of risk, and rejection of most anything remotely “innovative” ensures many payers, vendors, regulators and other stakeholders … Continue reading Workers’ comp and COVID-19, part 2
Read More...Yesterday’s WorkCompCentral featured an interview with an attorney discussing whether or not COVID-19 is a covered condition under North Carolina’s work comp regs. Couldn’t figure out why the piece bothered me so much until I woke up this morning, where … Continue reading Hey workers’ comp – stop the legal BS and do your part.
Read More...Employers, state funds, and insurers are focusing more and more on closing old claims; the most successful ones are partnering with their Pharmacy Benefit Managers. The logic is clear – the older and more costly the claim, the greater the … Continue reading PBMs and legacy work comp claims
Read More...What I missed when I was busy working last week… Workers’ comp HomeCareConnect launched a new service last week intended to smooth the transition for patients moving from acute care facilities to a skilled rehab facility. HCC folks have credentialed … Continue reading Quick hits – new services, good news, and why your health insurance costs are stupid expensive
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