This monograph analyzes the effects of changes to the workers' compensation system on return-to-work rates for California's injured workers. The authors study how public policies that influence return to work have changed in California in the past decade, estimate average return-to-work rates, compare the trends with the policy changes, and examine the impact that recent system reforms have had on benefit adequacy.

This brief summarizes a study of how changes to the workers' compensation system have affected return-to-work rates in California, how return-to-work trends compare with policy changes, and recent trends in benefit adequacy.

These proceedings are the product of a May 2003 colloquium on the workers' compensation medical benefit delivery system, with a focus on the access, cost, and quality issues facing the system and mechanisms to improve its quality and efficiency.