New Hampshire Workers’ Comp Committee Needs More Time

A commission aimed at addressing New Hampshire’s high workers compensation costs says it needs more time to study the issue and more comprehensive data on costs.

The 15-member commission released its report Friday after studying the issue for three months at Gov. Maggie Hassan’s request. In 2012 the state ranked 9th in the country for workers compensation expenses. An insurance department report found medical providers charge significantly more for workers compensation services. A majority of the committee has recommended creating a database to track costs, implementing a pharmacy benefit program and continuing to study the issue through the summer.

A minority of the committee and the state’s insurance commissioner say the state must immediately adopt a fee schedule to place caps on workers compensation charges.