WCRI Holding Webinar on Provider Choice

Thursday, May 25, 2017 | 0

The Workers Compensation Research Institute is holding a webinar in June to discuss its latest research into the effect of allowing employers or injured workers to choose a treating physician.

WCRI said its webinar will explore the relationship between who controls medical care and ultimate claim costs. It will also discuss whether this relationship changes with different types of injuries.

The webinar is a follow-up to a study WCRI published in April that found average incurred medical costs were $5,060 in states that give control of medical care to employers. In states where injured workers are allowed to choose a provider, the average incurred medical cost per claim was $5,675.

Similarly, average incurred indemnity costs were $4,315 in states with employer control of medical, compared to $5,470 in states that allow workers the right to select a physician.

The webinar, which starts at 2 p.m. Eastern on June 14, will be hosted by Bogdan Savych, a public policy analyst for WCRI and co-author of the research brief.

The webinar is free for WCRI members and policymakers, including elected officials and regulators, and $50 for non-members.

Registration information is here.