Health Worker Shortages Impact Workers’ Compensation Treatment Options

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on health care worker shortages, significantly affecting treatment options available to workers’ compensation claimants. This issue was a key topic at the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s annual Issues & Research conference. Experts, including Charles Kyles from Duke University & Health System and Sharon DelGuercio from Walt Disney World Resort, highlighted the ongoing challenges employers face in securing adequate care for injured workers due to provider shortages and the reluctance of some medical professionals to accept workers’ comp patients. The reluctance is partly attributed to states’ medical fee schedules, which some practitioners find insufficiently lucrative, and the complexities associated with treating patients within the workers’ compensation system.

The conference also addressed improvements in return-to-work programs post-pandemic, with companies like Publix Supermarkets successfully reintegrating employees, including amputees, into the workforce. However, the rise in workplace violence has emerged as a growing concern, complicating efforts to ensure a safe and supportive environment for returning employees. Employers like Duke and Publix are taking measures to address and manage these incidents, underlining the multifaceted challenges facing the workers’ compensation industry today. These discussions underscore the need for concerted efforts to overcome the hurdles in treatment availability and workplace safety, ensuring injured workers receive the care and support they need.