Seth Seabury

Systematically evaluates the California permanent disability ratings system used prior to the state's recent workers' compensation reform. California's disability rating system has been criticized as being inconsistent and prone to promote disputes over the appropriate level of permanent disability benefits. This monograph follows an earlier interim briefing on California's permanent disability rating schedule. The authors provide a systematic evaluation of the ratings system that was used prior to the state's 2004 workers' compensation reform efforts. Among other analyses, they examine the extent to which workers with higher disability ratings experience higher earnings losses.

Assesses the value of 24-hour care--an insurance plan that consolidates employers' health care benefits for work-related and non-work-related claims--as a mechanism for reducing workers' compensation costs. 450-character abstract: Proponents of a type of insurance program called 24-hour care--which would consolidate employers' health care benefits, and possibly disability benefits, for both work-related and non-work-related claims--believe that it could yield substantial workers' compensation savings for California. In this monograph, the authors present their assessment of the value of 24-hour care as a mechanism for reducing workers' compensation costs and discuss possible options for 24-hour-care model programs.