Fewer Early MRIs in Treatment Guideline States, WCRI Finds

Two states without workers’ comp medical treatment guidelines — Florida and Pennsylvania — had the highest rates of early MRIs in low-back claims, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. Conversely, four states that have adopted workers’ comp medical treatment guidelines — Massachusetts, California, Louisiana and Connecticut — had the lowest rates of early MRIs in low-back claims. Early MRI was defined as magnetic resonance imaging within six weeks of the date of injury. The 27-state study also looked at rates of lumbar dec...