Can we learn from the experience in Illinois? WCRI study released.

Similar experience in Illinois as we have seen in Montana, adjust the per visit / per encounter / per procedure reimbursement rates downward, and the utilization rate and number of procedures for similar claims seems to rise.  Illinois has enjoyed a significant medical cost decrease in their WC system due to their reforms, while Montana has seen only a moderate (far less than 10% at the system level...and the cost have MO claims has increase significantly over the past 3 years.  Significant reductions in WC costs appear most fruitful when attacking the source, eliminating injuies and diseases before they take place...safety, wellness and education.  This has been the mission of WorkSafeMT in Montana (www.worksafemt.com) for the past 6 years, with much more work to be done.

Read more about this on Joe Paduda's blog at http://www.joepaduda.com/2014/01/did-illinois-work-comp-costs-go-reform/ .