Four Workers’ Comp Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2020
2019 has been a busy year in the world of workers’ comp. As we countdown to 2020, here are the four industry trends we’ll be paying close attention to next year:
1. Marijuana Legalization
As of December 2019, 33 states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana use. For these states, there are two scenarios that most impact workers’ compensation. The first is when an employee gets injured on the job and is prescribed medical marijuana. The question is: Who pays for the medical marijuana? The second is when an employee gets injured on the job and is found to have marijuana in her system during the time of injury. The question is: Is it compensable?
In both instances, the answers to these questions varies state by state. While additional states are expected to legalize marijuana use in 2020, the regulation and dispensing of marijuana is still very much in flux depending on where these injuries take place. This has created an uncertain and fast-changing landscape for employers looking for guidance on how to protect their employees and themselves. Next year, we’ll be paying close attention to New York’s expected road to legalization as well as watching how other states create workers’ comp frameworks for companies and employees.
2. Wearable Technology
We’ve seen a steady uptick in employers integrating wearable technologies like fitness tracking apps and smart watches into their company-wide injury prevention strategies. Which seems to be a growing trend globally—PWC anticipates more than 75 million wearable technology devices will be introduced into the workplace next year.
As this National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) article outlines, “the most common workplace lost-time claims are strains or injuries from lifting, pushing, or pulling, as well as falls, slips, and trips. The most commonly injured body parts are the lower back, knee, shoulder, and fingers, while the most severe injuries are to the head, brain, neck, and spine.” We’ll be paying close attention to how wearable technologies will evolve to specifically target these common scenarios and injuries in 2020, as well as employee adoption of these technologies.
3. Telemedicine
We’ve been very excited to see an increase in employers’ adoption of telemedicine. From virtual case management consultations to prescription drug reviews, to the remote measurement of vital signs, telemedicine—and the technology that supports it—is on the rise.
The benefits of telemedicine are wide-ranging. Through phone and/or video calls, injured workers can access nurses and specialists without leaving their homes, saving themselves and their employers both time and money. Having offered telephonic case management services for years, we know how beneficial this remote support can be for employers looking for fast access to trained nurses. We’re excited to see it takeoff and look forward to seeing how employers further adopt the opportunities that exist with it in 2020.
4. The Roll-Out of the New York State Drug Formulary
According to the Department of Health, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in New York rose from 1,074 in 2010 to 3,009 in 2016—nearly a 180% increase. The recently launched drug formulary creates restrictions around the medications that can be used to treat the injured worker’s diagnosis as a way to decrease the number of people who are introduced to opioids and become addicted.On December 5th, the formulary began its roll-out for new prescriptions.
We’ll be working closely with our clients in 2020 to help them get up to speed on the new formulary rules and the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)-run portal. To learn more about the formulary, we’ve got a rundown of the seven most important things you need to know here.
Interested in streamlining your medical case management process in 2020? Shoot us an email. We’d love to help.