A Look at Workers’ Compensation Trends for 2018
Workers' compensation is one of the most important programs in place to protect employees who sustain harm on-the-job. Workers compensation provides broad protection whenever an employee is hurt or made sick as a direct result of job duties, regardless of whether an employer was negligent or was to blame for what happened to the worker.
While workers who are covered by workers' comp cannot sue their employers, there are a much broader array of situations in which a workers' comp claim can be made by a worker looking to recover benefits than there are circumstances where victims can obtain compensation for damages through the civil justice system. A Colorado Springs workers' compensation attorney can provide help working within the workers' comp system to ensure injured workers get the benefits that they deserve.
Because workers' comp is often the only source of protection for thousands of workers hurt on-the-job, it is important to understand trends within the field of workers' compensation. Business Insurance recently provided details about some trends in workers' compensation that workers, insurers, and employers can benefit from knowing about.
Trends in Workers' Compensation in 2018
According to Business Insurance, there are several key trends that will be the focus of the workers' compensation industry in 2018.
One of the big issues centers around pain management. Pain management has become a hot button issue deserving of attention because of concerns about the opioid epidemic. The dependence upon opioids afflicting many people after injuries has resulted in a focus on increasing collaboration between employers, physicians, pharmacists, and patients who are looking for alternatives to long-term drug therapy that could be more beneficial and less risky. Alternative therapies, pain coaching partnerships, physical therapy, and pharmacy management are a few of the key alternatives to long-term pain medication that are being explored and that injured workers could benefit from experimenting with after an injury.
Another major trend within the field of workers' compensation involves the expansion of the autonomous claims process. Thanks to technological innovation, it is becoming possible for the claims process to become even more autonomous than ever before. This means that more on-demands claims adjusting services are becoming common within the workers' compensation system. Smart interfaces are making it possible for simple claims, especially, to move through the claims process more efficiently and effectively, making it easier for injured workers to get their benefits claims approved in a much more timely manner.
The claims process is also changing to become more focused on diversity and inclusion, as the population is growing older and demographics are changing. With different generations and populations sharing the workforce, the workers' compensation industry must adapt to respond to differing needs.
While changes may be made in the way the claims process operates and the way workers with certain kinds of injuries are treated, the fundamental purpose of workers' compensation remains the same: protecting employees who suffer harm because of their work tasks. If you are injured at work, you need to reach out to a Colorado Springs workers' compensation attorney to find out more about what your rights are, how you can pursue a claim, and what you can do to protect your access to the benefits you deserve.
