WCRI releases updated workers compensation medical cost containment strategies

With the costs of medical care provided to injured workers continuing to rise each year, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released an updated compendium of cost containment strategies used in state workers' compensation systems titled Workers Compensation Medical Cost Containment: A National Inventory, 2011.

The medical cost containment strategies found in the report, which have been updated as of January 2011, fall into the categories of price management and utilization management, meaning they strive to control the cost of a service or the amount of services provided. The strategies cover many cost containment issues, including: fee schedules, limitation on medical services, drug costs, use of treatment guidelines and dispute resolution.

"What makes the report so valuable is that WCRI has brought all this information together in one place for easy reference," said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI's Deputy Director and Counsel. "The updated tables provide policy makers and systems stakeholders with a basic understanding of which strategies have been adopted by which states and provide additional references for those that want more detail."