Risk And Insurance - In-Depth Series

Disability: Chronic Pain In-Depth Series

Series Summary
In the United States, about 500,000 injured workers are being treated for chronic pain, workers' comp insurers estimate. Many of these workers, due to the nature of their injuries, have already gone on permanent disability. But the story doesn't quite end there. Every year, in fact, another 50,000 workers are added to the chronic pain patient rolls, according to insurance industry estimates. Chronic pain has become epidemic in the workers' comp arena, a growth industry in the workers' compensation marketplace.

Past Installments

Chronic Pain In-Depth Series (Part 1): Wrestling With an Insidious Illness
2008-10-15

Wrestling With an Insidious Illness | Risk & Insurance Chronic pain costs the workers' compensation system hundreds of millions of dollars every year, yet a coherent approach to the disease appears lacking.

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Chronic Pain In-Depth Series (Part 2): Carriers' Chronic Burden
2008-11-01

Carriers' Chronic Burden | Risk & Insurance About 5 percent of lost-time claimants have a significant chronic pain problem, but their claims account for about 30 percent of all lost-time claims payments in the first year alone.

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Chronic Pain In-Depth Series (Part 3): Two Journeys, Two Outcomes
2008-12-01

Two Journeys, Two Outcomes | Risk & Insurance Two cases illustrate the difference in outcomes and the importance of exercise and physical therapy in the rehabilitation of chronic pain cases.

Web Extras

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