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One way to contain spiraling medical costs in the workers' comp system is through the use of fee schedules, right? Maybe, say officials with a third-party administrator who will speak at the National Workers' Compensation and Disability ConferenceŽ & Expo.

Saying the workers' comp program covering federal employees has not been updated in nearly 40 years, President Obama is proposing changes.

New York businesses will save up to $800 million through the governor's workers' comp reform plan, he said.

An overall reduction in drug utilization of 2.8 percent resulted from a decrease in the number of prescriptions per claim and days' supply per prescription, reports a pharmacy benefit manager.

When Elkay Manufacturing's risk management team targeted a specific plumbing plant for a process improvement plan, they needed union support.

A sink-making plumbing facility used to have 60 lost time claims every year -- all of them litigated. But the second year after its risk management team implemented a new program, the facility had no lost time claims for nearly a year.

A Florida appeals court has agreed to rehear a controversial case involving the time limit of temporary total disability benefits. Workers' comp insurers are hoping the court will alter its decision that could cost the state's workers' comp system upwards of $65 million, according to NCCI.

Despite increases in future workers' comp loss costs, the governor's proposals to reform the workers' comp system should save employers money, predicts the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board.

State lawmakers reacting to frustration among some practitioners with what they consider the slow pace of cost reductions after recent legislative reforms to the workers' comp system are hoping a state fund might be the answer.

"We believe the dollars we've collected have been spent appropriately and that all Ohio businesses have benefitted and continue to benefit from Bureau of Workers' Compensation programs and services," said a statement from the state's monopolistic workers' comp fund.

Bill Zachry has seen a side of the workers' comp system few in the industry have.

Safeway Inc., the third-largest retail grocery company in the country, is home to Bill Zachry. He has been at the company since 2001 and serves as its vice president and risk manager.

Workers' comp stakeholders are waiting to see if the Florida Supreme Court will be asked to consider a controversial decision. As it stands, the state's 104-week limit for paying temporary total disability benefits was struck down for certain claims.

Up to 10 percent of workers' comp medical cost leakage might be prevented by catching erroneous bills early in the claims process, suggests Jerry D. Poole.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. New research shows the FMLA can ultimately help companies reduce their disability costs and improve the bottom line.

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to attend to a serious health condition -- their own or a family member's -- without fear of losing their jobs.

If you're nervous that the $85 billion in federal budget cuts that took effect this month might shake up the workers' comp system, don't be.

There are fewer prescriptions for compound drugs in the California workers' comp system these days. Nevertheless, payers are shelling out more money for them, according to a report by the California Workers' Compensation Institute.

Oklahoma lawmakers are once again considering legislation to allow employers to opt out of the workers' comp system. The bill making its way through the legislature is a tweaked version of last year's rejected proposal.

Opioids and repackaged medications will be the focus of state lawmakers during an upcoming national meeting. Committees in the National Council of Insurance Legislators will look at model laws for states to adopt.