Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The private equity and venture capital folks have been prowling around the WC managed care world for a couple of years now, looking for opportunities to invest their hard-solicited cash. Firms have invested in PBMs (MSC and Cypress Care), bill … Continue reading So, you want to invest in workers comp managed care?
Read More...The US is either in a recession or about to be. What does that mean for workers’ comp? Broadly speaking, there are no studies that indicate WC costs decline as a result of recessions; in general costs tend to increase. … Continue reading What does the recession mean for workers comp?
Read More...I have long assumed individuals working at employers that do not offer health insurance are more likely to file workers comp claims. With the number of employers offering health insurance declining, a logical corollary is more claims will be filed. … Continue reading The correlation between health insurance and work comp claims
Read More...I’ve always been a ‘non-advocate’ of tight fee schedules and broad based discounted networks. Actually it’s a little more than that – I believe mandated across-the-board low fees are counterproductive, ill-conceived, harmful, and may actually increase costs while decreasing access … Continue reading What happens when a fee schedule goes up?
Read More...I’m attending the annual WCRI meeting in Boston today and tomorrow, and will be blogging from the meeting. For those not up on all things workers comp, the workers comp research institute is, along with NCCI and the CWCI, among … Continue reading WCRI conference report – how’s Texas doing?
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Read More...Well, are workers comp rates softening, hardening, or just right? According to a study released at this year’s annual RIMS conference (held in Honolulu…), the market is softening. I’m not sure I buy that, and here’s why. There are lots … Continue reading Workers comp rates: hard? soft? just right?
Read More...My firm, Health Strategy Associates, is conducting the Third Annual Survey of Prescription Drug Management in Workers Comp, and I’m hoping to have the final report completed before the end of April. Here are a couple of interesting bits that … Continue reading Survey of Prescription Drug Management in Workers Comp
Read More...OK, congratulations to Massachusetts’ legislators and governor for creating the nation’s first potentially viable universal coverage program. While everyone is busy congratulating each other, (free registration required) I hate to be the one to harsh their mellow. But so I … Continue reading Why Massachusetts’ “universal health care” program will not work
Read More...California’s workers comp rate roller-coaster looks to be poised to make another steep drop. The combination of the national decrease in claims frequency and the impact of reforms have led to drastic decreases in comp rates, with more likely on … Continue reading Why is California’s workers comp injury rate dropping?
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