The Intelligent Insurance Solution

Trust Represented on Two Key Committees at the Workers’ Compensation Commission

At the request of the Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman John A. Mastropietro, the Trust is participating on two key committees impacting workers’ compensation policy in the state.

The first committee was created as a result of Senate Bill 61, passed in May of 2014 by the
Connecticut Legislature. This bill requires the Commission to create a workers’ compensation fee schedule for services rendered at a hospital or Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). For years, these costs have skyrocketed for employers and the need for a fair method to calculate how hospitals and ASCs should be paid for treating injured workers was much needed. The first meeting was held in July and was attended by various stakeholders from the payor, provider, and employer communities. Diane M. Ritucci, President & CEO of the Trust represented the interests of our members and self-insured clients. Pursuant to the legislation, the law requires that a fee schedule be developed and implemented no later than January 1, 2015 and this group will be working feverishly over the next five months or so to meet that deadline.

A second committee was recently formed to address the emerging concerns of opioid use (narcotic pain medication) by injured workers. A recent industry report published by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute stated that approximately 60% of injured workers in the state of Connecticut with greater than seven days of lost work time receive narcotic pain medication(s) at some point throughout the life of their claim. The Chairman has expressed his concern as the dangers of narcotic misuse resulting in death and addiction continue to be on the rise in the United States.

The first meeting was held in June and was attended by physicians, legal counsel, commissioners and payors. Brian Downs, VP of Quality and Provider Relations attended from the Trust. Clear objectives were identified: (1) creating additional educational information for providers and injured workers on the dangers of long term opioid use; and (2) creating an easy to use assessment tool to help providers determine the effectiveness and safety of prescribing these types of drugs in the overall care of their patients.

Once again, the Trust is privileged and honored to work with the Commission to advise and participate in these very important issues impacting the workers’ compensation system and to assist in policies and protocols that affect the safety and well being of injured workers, and reduce costs for our members and self-insured clients.