Plentiful Pandemic Payments

“PPP” has a new meaning for workers’ comp.

Recent articles from WorkCompWire and Boston Globe/MSN highlight the latest WCRI report titled “The Early Impact of COVID-19 on Workers’ Compensation Claim Composition.”

This study analyzed and compared claims during the first six months of 2019 and 2020 from 27 states. These statistics are fascinating:

Massachusetts had a 50% drop in non-COVID-related claims, but 42% of all medical and indemnity payments were COVID-related;

85% of second quarter 2020 COVID-related claims were concentrated in service industries (retirement homes, hospitals, physician offices, etc.);

The largest decrease in non-COVID-related claims (57%) was for clerical and professional employees.

There is speculation that employees were reluctant to file claims due to concerns about job security. Additionally, during the crisis many employees were reluctant to leave their homes, and the ability to obtain appointments for medical care was limited.

Understanding these studies is key to stakeholders and regulators doing better.

Call us. We can do better.

William Faris, JD
Chief Executive Officer
502-495-5040
william.faris@omca.biz
www.omca.biz

Posted in News