Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

Reports and Studies by Date of Issue

There are two ways of locating CHSWC Research Reports and Studies. You may find them in by topic by clicking Reports and Studies by Topic, or you may find them by date of issue here.

CHSWC studies that have been presented in Draft version, pending Feedback and Final Approval at Commission Meetings are posted in the Feedback section of the website. Only approved reports will be posted on this page.

• Identifying Risky Opioid Prescribing Practices, UCLA 2012 version
  
• Memorandum on Evaluation of Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Using AGREE II, UCLA 2012 version
  • Public Comments and the Author’s replies version
• CHSWC 2012 Annual Report version

• Requirement for Insurer Review of Employer's IIPP version
  
• Impact of the Adoption of AMA-based Permanent Disability Rating Schedule in California version
  • Stakeholder public comments about PD rating schedule report version
• An Evaluation of the California Illness and Injury Prevention Program, RAND, 2012
  • Full Report
  • Summary
• Are There Unusually Effective Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors and Inspection Practices? RAND, 2012 version

• CHSWC 2011 Annual Report version
• Selected Indicators in Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation: 2011 Report Card for California, December 2011 version
• Use of Compound Drugs, Medical Foods, and Co-Packs in California’s Workers’ Compensation Program: An Overview of the Issues, RAND, January 2011 version
• Medical Care Provided Under California’s Workers’ Compensation Program: Effects of the Reforms and Additional Opportunities to Improve the Quality and Efficiency of Care, RAND, 2011 version
  Separate Appendices document version
• WOSHTEP - 2011 Advisory Board annual report version
• RAND/UCLA Quality-of-Care Measures for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Tools for Assessing Quality of Care and Appropriateness of Surgery, RAND, 2011
  • Summary
  • Full Report
  • Appendices
• Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS) Information Technology Needs Assessment Report, June 2011 version
  Stakeholder public comments about EAMS Needs Assessment Report version
• If Your Employer is Illegally Uninsured: How to Apply for Workers’ Compensation Benefits, June 2011 English version Spanish version
• Working Safer or Just Working Longer? The Impact of an Aging Workforce on Occupational Injury and Illness Costs, February 2011 version
• Liens Report, January 2011 version
  Stakeholder public comments about Lien Report, Volume 1 version and Volume 2 version
• Memo on System Monitoring, January 2011 version
• Workers' Compensation Reform and Return to Work: The California Experience, RAND, 2011 Full Document version Summary only version
  

• CHSWC 2010 Annual Report version
• WOSHTEP - 2010 Advisory Board annual report version
• Selected Indicators in Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation: 2010 Report Card for California, December 2010 version
• Workers' Compensation Reform and Return to Work: The California Experience, RAND, pre-publication copy (pending December 2010 version) version
• Evaluating the QME Process: Is it Equitable and Efficient? September 2010 version
• Letter To All Interested Parties from Christine Baker, Executive Officer, introducing The Whole Worker booklet version
• The Whole Worker: Guidelines for Integrating Occupational Health and Safety with Workplace Wellness Programs, 2010 version
• Study of Benefit Notices and Recommendations, July 2010 version
• The Frequency, Severity, and Economic Consequences of Musculoskeletal Injuries to Firefighters in California, RAND, 2010 version
• Review of Disability Evaluation Delays and Supplemental QME Reports, June 2010 version
• How Effective are Employer Return to Work Programs? RAND, February 2010 version
• Report on the Return-To-Work Program Established in Labor Code Section 139.48 version
• Best Practices in Returning an Injured Employee to Work: Factsheet for Employers, February 2010 version
• Helping Injured Employees Return to Work: Practical Guidance Under Workers' Compensation and Disability Rights Laws in California, February 2010 version

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• CHSWC 2009 Annual Report version
• WOSHTEP - 2009 Advisory Board annual report version
• California's Volatile Workers' Compensation Insurance Market: Problems and Recommendations for Change, RAND, December 2009 version
• Selected Indicators in Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation: 2009 Report Card for California, December 2009 version
• Report on Self Insurance Groups, December 2009 version
• Regulatory Actions that Could Reduce Unnecessary Medical Expenses Under California's Workers' Compensation Program, RAND, 2009 version
• Hospital Emergency Department Services Furnished Under California's Workers' Compensation Program, RAND, 2009 version
• Facility Services for Ambulatory Surgery, RAND, 2009 version
• Recommendations for the Return-to-Work Program Established in Labor Code Section 139.48 version
• Revised Claims Adjuster and Bill Reviewer Training and Certification by Insurers Report version version
• Summary of January 9, 2009 First Aid Cases Advisory Group Meeting version version
• Summary of December 9, 2008 Return-to-Work/FEHA/ADA Advisory Group Meeting version version
• Inpatient Hospital Services: An Update on Services Provided Under California's Workers' Compensation Program Report, RAND version - Summary version
• Fraud in Workers’ Compensation Payroll Reporting: How Much Employer Fraud Exists? What is the Impact on Honest Employers? version January 2009 (Update to the 2007 CHSWC report of same title presented at a Commission meeting; 2009 update funded by the Fraud Assessment Commission)

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• 2008 Annual Report
• Summary of June 27, 2008 Schools Injury and Illness Prevention Program Roundtable version version
• Summary of July 16, 2008 Workplace Wellness Roundtable version version
• Selected indicators in workers' compensation: A report card for Californians, December 2008 version version
• Summary of Occupational and Non-Occupational Integrated Care Roundtables, December 2008 version
• WOSHTEP - 2008 Advisory Board annual report version version
• Workers' Compensation Medical Payment Accuracy Study, California Department of Insurance, June 2008 version
• Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees: Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy, 2008 version
• Integrating Group Health and Workers' Compensation Medical Care Factsheet, 2008 version
• Analysis of proposed WCIRB 2009 Pure Premium Rates, September 23, 2008 version
• Reporting Workers? Compensation Injuries in California: How Many are Missed? August 2008 version
• Quality Management and Job Quality: How the ISO 9001 Standard for Quality Management Systems Affects Employees and Employers, August 18, 2008 version
• Heat Hazards in Agriculture, A Guide For Employers To Carry Out Tailgate Training for Workers English version - Spanish version
• Research Colloquium on Workers' Compensation Medical Benefit Delivery and Return to Work, RAND version
• Workers' Compensation in California and in the Nation: Benefit and Employer Cost Trends, 1989-2005 version
• Memorandum to Christine Baker: Impact of relaxing restrictions on eligibility for temporary disability payments beyond the current 2 years from commencement of benefit payment, January 26, 2007 version version
• Research Agenda for Improving Workplace Health and Safety in California, February 2008 version
• Background Report on California Occupational Safety and Health Programs, February 2008 version

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• 2007 Annual Report version version
• Selected indicators in workers' compensation: A report card for Californians, December 2007 version
• WOSHTEP - 2007 Advisory Board annual report version
• Medical Care Provided California's Injured Workers: An Overview of the Issues, RAND, September 2007 version
• Understanding the Effect of SB 899 (Stats 2004, Chap 34) on the Law of Apportionment, April 2007 version
• Memorandum to Christine Baker, Executive Officer of CHSWC regarding "Analysis of ratings under the new PD schedule, through June 2007", August 23, 2007 version version
• Fraud in Workers' Compensation Payroll Reporting: How Much Employer Fraud Exists? What is the Impact on Honest Employers?, August 2007 version version
• Split Class Codes: Evidence of Fraudulent Payroll Reporting, August 2007 version version
• Pay-for-Performance in California's Workers' Compensation Medical Treatment System, RAND, August 2007 version
• Return-to-Work Roundtable, Summary of November 17, 2006, CHSWC, April 27, 2007 version version
• Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund, Background Paper, CHSWC, April 27, 2007 version Version
• 24-Hour Care Roundtable, Summary of December 7, 2006, CHSWC, April 27, 2007 version version
• Report and Recommendations on the Spinal Surgery Second-Opinion Process, CHSWC, April 27, 2007 version version
• Draft study of the California workers' compensation insurance market study, Hays, September 2003 version version
• Memorandum to Christine Baker, Executive Officer of CHSWC regarding "Analysis of ratings under the new PD schedule, through January 2007", February 23, 2007 version version

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• WOSHTEP - 2006 Advisory Board annual report version
• California Research Colloquium on Workers' Compensation Medical Benefit Delivery and Return to Work, RAND, 2006 version
• Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation - 2006 annual report, December 2006 version version
• "Workers' Compensation in California: A Guidebook for Injured Workers," November 2006 Edition
  NOTE: This has been superceded by an updated and revised version. See current version.
• Selected indicators in workers' compensation: A report card for Californians, December 2006 version version
• New factsheets on workers' compensation medical care "The Basics About Medical Care For Injured Workers" version and medical booklet "Getting Appropriate Medical Care For Your Injury" version
• A report on the "Forum on catastrophe preparedness: Partnering to protect workplaces," held on April 7, 2006 version version
• Impact of physician-dispensing of repackaged drugs on California workers' compensation, employers cost, and workers' access to quality care, July 2006 version version
• Barriers to occupational health services for low-wage workers in California, April 2006 version version
• How to create a workers' compensation carve-out in California: Practical advice for unions and employers, 2006 version
• Evaluating medical treatment guideline sets for injured workers in California, RAND, April 2006 - full report version summary version
• Updated and revised CHSWC recommendations to DWC on workers' compensation medical treatment guidelines version version
• AB 1987 and return-to-work incentives and alternatives, April 2006 version version
• A report on Health Care Organizations (HCOs) in workers' compensation, April 2006 version version
• CHSWC background paper on the impact of terrorism and California workers' compensation, April 2006 version version
• Issue paper on tax status of Self-Insured Groups (SIGs), April 2006 version
• CHSWC report: Permanent disability schedule analysis, February 23, 2006 version
• Workers' compensation compliance and proof of coverage, February 2006 version version

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• CHSWC 2005 annual report version version
• WOSHTEP - 2005 Advisory Board annual report version version
• Evaluating Medical Treatment Guideline Sets for Injured Workers in California, RAND, 2005" version
• Report: Selected indicators in workers' compensation: A report card for Californians, December 2005 version version
• Paper: Payment for hardware Used in complex spinal procedures under California's Official Medical Fee Schedule for injured Workers, RAND, 2005 version
• Understanding the effect of SB 899 (Stats 2004, Chap 34) on the law of apportionment version version
• Report: An evaluation of California's permanent disability rating system, RAND, 2005 - full report version summary version
  
• Paper: Paying for repackaged drugs under the California Workers' Compensation Official Medical Fee Schedule, May 2005 version
• Paper: Payments for burn patients under California's Official Medical Fee Schedule for injured workers, May 2005 version
• CHSWC issue paper on public access to WC insurance coverage information, April 2005 version version
• United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation market in California, April 2005 version version
• Workers' Compensation in California: A guidebook for injured workers, February 2005
  version size 1.8Mb Spanish version size 3.1Mb

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• Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation - 2004 annual report, December 2004 version version
• Report: Assessment of 24-hour care options for California, 2004 version
• CHSWC recommendation: CHSWC recommendations to DWC on Workers' Compensation medical treatment guidelines version version
• Workers' Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP), November 2004 version version
• Adopting medicare fee schedules - full text version - summary version
• Summary of workers' compensation reform legislation - SB 899 version version
• Section-by-section review of SB 899 version version
• CHSWC white paper on Cost/Benefit of Implementing Electronic Deposit for unemployment and disability benefits in the State of California, July 2004 version version
• Carve-out a guidebook for unions and employers in workers' compensation, April 2004 verseion version
• Background Paper on Causation and Apportionment, May 2004 version version

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• Adopting Medicare Fee Schedules: Considerations for the California Workers' Compensation Program, RAND, 2003 - Summary version - Full Text version
• Judicial Study - Improving "The Courts": Candidate Recommendations for the Adjudication of Claims Before the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (2003), full report version - summary version
• Evaluation of California's Permanent Disability Rating Schedule: Interim Report version - December 2003
• Reforms of 2003, October 2003 AB 227 version version and SB 228 version version
• Multilingual Health & Safety Resources a Guide to Worker Training Materials on the web
• Workers' Compensation medical care in California fact sheets
• CHSWC Annual report 2002 - 2003 version - December 2003 - Errata version January 28, 2004 - Errata version March 1, 2004
• Outline: Estimating the range of savings from introduction of guidelines including ACOEM (revised) version version - October 2003
• Twenty-Four Hour Care version version - October 2003
• Workplace health and safety worker training materials: An Electronic MultiLingual Resource List - version version
• Memorandum - Update on Labor Code Section 132a and Employer Termination of Health Insurance Coverage: California Supreme Court Decision in State of California Dept. of Rehabilitation v. WCAB (Lauher) version version
• Recommendations for improvement of the IMC's of injured workers and regulations of QMEs version version
• Workers' Compensation Medical Payment Systems: A Proposal for Simplification and Administrative Efficiency version version - August 2003

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• A Guidebook for Injured Workers, 2002
  NOTE: This has been superceded by an updated and revised version. See current version.
  
• CHSWC Strategic Plan 2002
• Doctors and Courts: Do Legal Decisions Affect Medical Treatment Practice? An Evaluation of Treating Physician Presumption in the California Workers' Compensation System (November 2002)
• CHSWC and AB 749 as Amended (October 2002) CHSWC and AB 749 (February 2002)
• State of Workers' Compensation Insurance Industry in California (April 2002)
• Inpatient Hospital Fee Schedule and Outpatient Surgery Study (February 2002)

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• Permanent Disability at Private, Self-Insured Firms: A Study of Earnings Loss, Replacement, and Return to Work for Workers' Compensation Claimants, 2001 version
• Trends in Earnings Loss from Disbling Workplace Injuries in California: The Role of Economic Conditions, RAND version
• Report on the Workers' Compensation Anti-Fraud Program (August 2001) - Attachments
• Return-to-Work In California: Listening to Stakeholders' Voices (July 2001)

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• Update Workers' Compensation and the California Economy (December 2000)Workers' Compensation and the California Economy (April 2000)
• Study of the Cost of Pharmaceuticals in Workers' Compensation (June 2000) Executive Summary
• Recommendations: Information for Injured Workers' (May 2000)
• Report on the Campaign Against Workers' Compensation Fraud' (May 2000)
• Issue Paper on Labor Code Section 5814' (April 2000)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Reform Evaluation (March 2000) version

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• Preliminary Evidence on the Implementation of Baseball Arbitration' (November 1999)
• Workers' Compensation Costs and Benefits After the Implementation of Reform Legislation (August 1999)
• Executive Summary Impact of the 1993 Reforms on Payments of Temporary and Permanent Disability (August 1999)
• Summary Estimating the Workers' Compensation Reform Impact on Employer Costs and Employee Benefits (August 1999)
• Carve-Outs' in Workers' Compensation: An Analysis of Experience in the California Construction Industry (September 1999)
• Background Paper on Labor Code Section 5814 (March 1999)
• Report on the Quality of the Treating Physician Reports and the Cost-Benefit of Presumption in Favor of the Treating Physician (August 1999)

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• CHSWC Report on the Workers' Compensation Audit Function (December 1998) Executive Summary
• Compensating Permanent Workplace Injuries: A Study of the California System, RAND, 1998 version
• Employers Illegally Uninsured for Workers' Compensation - CHSWC Recommendations to Identify Them and Bring them Into Compliance (December 1998)
• Protecting and Educating Young Workers: Report of the California Study Group on Young Worker Health and Safety (March 1998)

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• Workers' Compensation Anti-Fraud Activities - Report on the CHSWC Public Fact-Finding Hearing (September 1997)
• Evaluating the Reforms of the Medical-Legal Process Using the WCIRB Permanent Disability Survey (1997) Executive Summary
• Findings and Recommendations on California's Permanent Partial Disability System: Executive Summary (1997) version version
• Does Modified Work Facilitate Return To Work For Temporarily Or Permanently Disabled Workers?' (August 1997)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Benefit: An Analysis of Costs, Characteristics, and the Impact of the 1993 Reforms (August 1997)
• Navigating the California Workers' Compensation System: The Injured Workers' Experience (July 1996)

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Revised March 25, 2013