Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Jon Coppelman at Workers Comp Insider has written a thoughtful and incisive piece on the new WC market in West Virginia. The state had been (actually, until the middle of this year it still is) a monopolisitic state – employers … Continue reading A new opportunity in West Virginia
Read More...The workers comp PPO is dead. Well, dying. The era of large, national PPOs delivering a single generic discount-based model is coming to a close. Payers are finding that their medical costs are still going up; their managed care fees … Continue reading Workers Comp PPOs are dead
Read More...A beautiful Friday morning here in New York’s Finger Lakes…here’s the good news from this week. First, the Supreme Court rejected the Purdue Pharma opioid settlement agreement – thereby allowing victims to pursue legal action against the Sackler family. As … Continue reading Good news Friday – Opioid settlement rejected, lower drug costs, and a solid economy
Read More...A just-published research study examined the impact of reductions in opioids on workers’ comp patients and prescribers in Ohio and Washington. (our research which includes payers’ opioid spend is here) Key takeaways: Providers reported more limited and cautious prescribing than … Continue reading Opioid reduction in work comp and the impact on patients and prescribers
Read More...The state legislation that will MOST affect workers’ comp is often not ABOUT workers’ comp – rather it deals with other parts of the healthcare ecosystem. For example: Regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers FromWaPo: At least 41 state legislatures introduced bills … Continue reading State moves that will affect workers’ comp
Read More...Back to Florida… the home of many workers comp payers’ nightmares. This time in Miami – where we find Kendall Hospital. A large teaching hospital, level 1 trauma center, and…the most costly facility within a 10-mile radius. Combining scores for … Continue reading Facility cost does NOT equal quality – part 4
Read More...In a key step to help protect workers from excessive heat, OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) met to review a draft rule’s initial regulatory framework. While we wait for OSHA’s rule-making process to wend its way … Continue reading Heat exposure – OSHA makes progress and a Simple Question.
Read More...The single biggest risk to workers’ comp is heat. Heat will have more impact on worker safety, injuries, and illness than any other single factor…a risk that will only increase as our planet heats up. credit WCRI Aside from a … Continue reading Heat and Virtue Signaling.
Read More...Yesterday’s non-announcement that ExamWorks bought Optum’s Settlement (MSA) business should not have been a surprise. Word on the street is Optum’s been trying to off-load its PBM (pharmacy benefit management) and ancillary services businesses for some months now. That and … Continue reading What’s up with Optum workers’ comp?
Read More...Great news on the economy… The labor market stays strong, inflation is slowing, and the stock market continues to boom. Dow hit 40,000 this week and the S&P hit an all-time high Other stock indices have seen even higher gains … Continue reading Good news Friday – 401(k)s are up a ton, consumer protections, and destroying Russian jets
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