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Workers' Compensation

Research Brief

COVID-19's Impacts on California's Workers' Compensation System: Evaluating the Effects of Senate Bill 1159

The authors evaluated the effects of COVID-19 claims on the California workers' compensation system and on the payment of workers' compensation benefits, noting patterns created by the presumptions established by Senate Bill 1159.

May 26, 2022
Journal Article

Worker and Employer Experiences with COVID-19 and the California Workers' Compensation System: A Review of the Literature

We conducted a literature review on worker and employer experiences surrounding COVID-19 and worker's compensation, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Feb 4, 2022
Report

Earnings Losses and Benefit Adequacy in California's Workers' Compensation System: Estimates for 2005–2017 Injury Dates

This final report in a series is part of an effort to monitor wage losses of injured workers in the California workers' compensation system between 2013 and 2017. It updates estimates of trends in earnings losses reported in the interim reports.

Feb 3, 2022
Report

Workers' Compensation and COVID-19

As the pandemic continues, states vary on whether or how to allow workers to seek compensation for a COVID-19 diagnosis. It's too early to know the full costs, effects, and efficacy of these efforts, but now is a good time for policymakers to consider all the arguments for and against coverage.

Jan 11, 2022
Report

COVID-19 in the California Workers' Compensation System: A Study of COVID-19 Claims and Presumptions Under Senate Bill 1159

The authors evaluate the effects of COVID-19 claims on the California workers' compensation system and on the payment of workers' compensation benefits, noting patterns by industry, occupation, and the presumptions established by Senate Bill 1159.

Dec 29, 2021
Research Brief

First Responder Claims for PTSD in Workers' Compensation: Assessing the Effects of Senate Bill 542 in California

Under California's Senate Bill 542, which creates a legal presumption that posttraumatic stress disorder in firefighters and peace officers is a work-related injury, additional costs to state and local governments could be large but are uncertain.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Posttraumatic Stress in California's Workers' Compensation System: A Study of Mental Health Presumptions for Firefighters and Peace Officers Under Senate Bill 542

The authors evaluate the prevalence of mental health conditions among first responders in California and discuss policy implications, with a focus on how posttraumatic stress disorder is handled in the state's workers' compensation system.

Sep 20, 2021
Journal Article

Does Marijuana Legalization Affect Work Capacity? Evidence from Workers' Compensation Benefits

We study the effect of state recreational marijuana laws on workers' compensation benefit receipt among adults 40–62 years old.

Mar 23, 2021
Report

Evaluation of California Senate Bill 863 Medical Care Reforms

This report uses data from the California Worker's Compensation Information System and interactions with subject-matter experts to evaluate the impact of Senate Bill 863 on medical care utilization and spending for injured workers in California.

Sep 28, 2020
Commentary

Can Workers' Compensation Help Businesses Reopen More Safely?

Workers' compensation typically does not cover common infectious diseases like COVID-19. But in the fight against the pandemic, state policymakers might take a fresh look at aspects of labor and business regulation that usually fade into the background and ask if modest changes hold any potential to reduce disease transmission.

Sep 9, 2020
Commentary

Should COVID-19 Be Covered by Workers' Compensation?

Expanding workers' compensation coverage for COVID-19 could be part of a broader response to ensuring an efficient economic recovery from the pandemic. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks?

Aug 31, 2020
Report

Wage Loss Monitoring for Injured Workers in California's Workers' Compensation System: 2016–2017 Injury Year Findings (Third Interim Report)

The authors present new estimates of wage loss for California's injured workers in 2016-2017 and compare these estimates with trends before, during, and after the Great Recession.

Feb 5, 2020
Report

The Frequency and Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders for California Firefighters: Trends and Outcomes over the Past Decade

The authors update analyses from a 2010 study on firefighters in California and consider the impacts of the 2013 workers' compensation reforms and the economic shocks of the late 2000s on outcomes for firefighters with musculoskeletal disorders.

Jan 31, 2020
Journal Article

The Impact of Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose Threshold Guidelines on Prescribed Dose in a Workers' Compensation Population

Passage of morphine equivalent daily dose guidelines was associated with significant decreases in high dose opioid prescribing among workers' compensation claimants with chronic non-cancer related pain.

Jan 31, 2020
Report

Who Settles in Workers' Compensation?

The process of determining appropriate workers' compensation benefits can be costly and complicated. Changes in permanent disability benefits in Oregon provide a case study on the relationship between the expected value of the benefit and the probability of settlement.

Dec 23, 2019
Report

Access to Medical Treatment for Injured Workers in California: Year 3 Annual Report

The key objective of this third report in a three-part series is to describe access to medical care among injured workers in California using medical billing data from Version 2.0 of the Workers' Compensation Information System.

Jun 21, 2019
Report

Access to Medical Treatment for Injured Workers in California: Year 2 Annual Report

This Year 2 report updates the trends in care for injured workers in California that were examined in a Year 1 report -- all part of a three-year state effort. This study uses data from claims, a physician survey, and Medical Provider Network listings.

Dec 27, 2018
Report

Wage Loss Monitoring for Injured Workers in California's Workers' Compensation System: 2014–2015 Injury Year Findings (Second Interim Report)

This report presents new estimates of wage loss for workers in California who suffered a workplace injury or illness in 2014-2015 and compares these estimates with trends before, during, and after the Great Recession.

Dec 27, 2018
Report

Access to Medical Treatment for Injured Workers in California: Year 1 Annual Report

This report describes access to medical care among injured workers in the state of California, as mandated by Labor Code Section 5307.2.

Sep 27, 2018
Report

How Can Workers' Compensation Systems Promote Occupational Safety and Health? Stakeholder Views on Policy and Research Priorities

A report from RAND explores the views of key workers' compensation stakeholders. The study presents challenges and priorities to be addressed in reforming workers' compensation systems to promote occupational safety and the well-being of workers.

Aug 31, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Workers' Compensation

Topic Synonyms:
Workers Comp

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