Magnifying Glass
Back to Expert Analysis

Hospital Closures and Impact on Outcomes – 2nd Session

06 Mar, 2026 James Moore

                               
2026 WCRI Annual Conference - Bogdan Savych -
(c) WCRI – Cambridge MA

Description

Hospital closures are occurring nationwide. This session examines how they affect workers’ comp access, treatment patterns, costs, and disability duration, looking across rural and urban areas.

The slides for this presentation are not shared on the app because the findings are preliminary. WCRI’s report on this subject will be published in the coming months.

Based on the recent hospital closures, do you see a delay in the return to work process?  Answer – We did not see a delay in the RTW process.  – <Amazing Answer> I thought it would increase delays in the RTW process.

My impression – Bogdan always has a research topic and report, which usually do not follow the norm.  As with this session, what he covered was groundbreaking.   I had a discussion with him at breaktime that North Carolina – J&L’s home state – had created a unique situation where University Medical Systems, such as Duke Medical and UNC Medical, have provided much-needed medical treatment in rural areas in North Carolina, including rural hospitals.

This blog post is provided by James Moore, AIC, MBA, ChFC, ARM, and is republished with permission from J&L Risk Management Consultants. Visit the full website at www.cutcomposts.com.

  • AI california case file caselaw case management case management focus claims compensability compliance compliance corner courts covid do you know the rule employers exclusive remedy florida glossary check Healthcare hr homeroom insurance insurers iowa kentucky leadership NCCI new jersey new york ohio pennsylvania roadmap Safety safety at work state info tech technology violence WDYT west virginia what do you think women's history women's history month workers' comp 101 workers' recovery Workplace Safety Workplace Violence

    • Read Also

    Social Inflation is Rising: What it Means for Strategic Liability Management 

    By: Ryan Murphy, Vice President Product, Enterprise Claims, CorVel  Across the U.S., many households are seeing everyday prices ease. Yet inside claims departments and risk offices, costs are not stabilizing. In fact, many organizations are experiencing […]
    Understanding Morphine Equivalent Dose (Med) and Why It Matter in Claims Management

    By: Christina Klemm, Pharm.D., BCACP, Clinical Operations, Enlyte Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED) is a standardized way to estimate a person's total opioid exposure over a 24-hour period. Because different opioid medications have varying potencies, a common […]
    NCCI’s latest report: Pain Management Interstate Variation

    Pain Management Accounts for 30% of Workers Compensation Medical Costs in 2023, with Significant Variation Across States WHAT:New NCCI analysis examining pain management (PnM) costs in workers compensation across states. WHY IT MATTERS:Pain management represents […]

    About The Author

    • James Moore

    More by This Author

    Workers Comp Adjuster Jobs – Can I Apply For Other States?

    Workers Comp Adjuster Jobs – How To Apply If You Live Out of State We receive this question from adjusters frequently on out of state workers comp adjuster jobs.  Can I apply for jobs in […]
    Multistate Workers Comp Claims Adjusting = Balancing Act

    Becoming a Multistate Workers Comp claims adjuster ends up as an eye-opening experience. A recently promoted Senior Claims Adjuster messaged me through LinkedIn earlier this month. The message read (paraphrased) – My employer (WC carrier) […]
    2024 NCCI AIS – Day One Morning – Stunning Numbers

    2024 NCCI AIS – Annual Insights Symposium – First Morning Sessions Thanks to Cristine Pike and Madison White for inviting me back to this year’s 2024 NCCI AIS.  They are excellent contacts for anything you […]

    Read More

    Social Inflation is Rising: What it Means for Strategic Liability Management 

    By: Ryan Murphy, Vice President Product, Enterprise Claims, CorVel  Across the U.S., many households are seeing everyday prices ease. Yet inside claims departments and risk offices, costs are not stabilizing. In fact, many organizations are experiencing […]
    Understanding Morphine Equivalent Dose (Med) and Why It Matter in Claims Management

    By: Christina Klemm, Pharm.D., BCACP, Clinical Operations, Enlyte Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED) is a standardized way to estimate a person's total opioid exposure over a 24-hour period. Because different opioid medications have varying potencies, a common […]
    NCCI’s latest report: Pain Management Interstate Variation

    Pain Management Accounts for 30% of Workers Compensation Medical Costs in 2023, with Significant Variation Across States WHAT:New NCCI analysis examining pain management (PnM) costs in workers compensation across states. WHY IT MATTERS:Pain management represents […]
    The Hidden Cost of Regulatory Surprise: What Workers’ Comp Stakeholders Should Know Before it’s Too Late 

    There is more regulatory chaos in the workers' compensation pharmacy industry than ever before. While players focus on daily tasks like processing claims, negotiating contracts, and limiting usage, a quiet wave of changes to state […]
    NCCI Court Case Update

    Exclusive remedy—providing immunity to employers from employee tort suits for work-related injuries covered by WC—has been a closely watched topic among WC stakeholders for several years. In 2025, we reported on decisions addressing applicability and […]
    Employer Choice in Workers’ Comp – a State-by-State Survey 

    Introduction  In workers’ compensation cases, the selection of a treating physician significantly impacts both the injured worker’s recovery and costs borne by employers and workers’ compensation payers. Some states allow employees to choose their own physicians, while others […]