WCIRB: Claim Complexity, Regional Variations Drive Prolonged Duration

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau on Tuesday released a study citing higher shares of permanent partial disability and cumulative trauma claims, a higher percentage of claims requiring medical-legal reports and regional differences as four key drivers of duration in California. Indemnity claims in California are open significantly longer than they are in other states. After five years, 13% of claims in California remain open, more than twice the national median with 5% of claims still open after 60 months. California’s share of permanent partial disability claims,...