Cambridge, MA, Jan. 12, 2021―Today, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced that Dr. Katharine Abraham, former Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner and member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, will deliver the opening keynote at the Institute’s 37th Annual Issues & Research Conference, which is being held virtually March 23 and 24, 2021.

Dr. Abraham will talk about the impact of COVID-19 and the shutdown on the labor market. She will discuss how this shutdown and recovery is different from previous recessions as well as the potential for, and the impact of, long-term unemployment. Dr. Abraham will share her insights on the disparities the shutdown and virus are creating and the long-term effect of this on the recovery and the workplace.

“We’re excited to have Dr. Abraham open WCRI’s annual conference―our biggest event of the year,” said John Ruser, WCRI’s president and CEO. “Her experience working in Washington as well as the research that she has conducted at the University of Maryland, where she is Professor of Economics and Survey Methodology, are sure to leave our attendees with actionable information they can use to better understand where our economy is now and where it is going.”

WCRI’s two-day program highlights the Institute’s latest research findings while drawing upon the diverse perspectives of highly respected workers’ compensation experts and policymakers from across the country. This year’s virtual conference will be shorter and feature three sessions a day in the afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. The following are among the topics the conference will address:

• Impact of COVID-19 on Claims and the Delivery of Medical Care
• Highlights from WCRI’s Latest Research on Prescription Drugs
• Health Equity and COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Physical Therapy Treatment Patterns and Outcomes
• State of the States: Selective Findings
• Future of Work and Worker Safety

The WCRI conference is a leading workers’ compensation forum for policymakers, employers, labor advocates, insurance executives, health care organizations, claims managers, researchers, and others. Conference participants will leave with new insights, valuable networking contacts, and a better understanding of key issues in today’s competitive environment.

The conference is free for WCRI members, state legislators, and members of the press, and $175 for non-members. To learn more or to register, visit https://www.wcrinet.org/news/events/37th-annual-wcri-issues-research-conference.  

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Cambridge, MA. Organized in late 1983, the Institute does not take positions on the issues it researches; rather, it provides information obtained through studies and data collection efforts, which conform to recognized scientific methods. Objectivity is further ensured through rigorous, unbiased peer review procedures. WCRI's diverse membership includes employers; insurers; governmental entities; managed care companies; health care providers; insurance regulators; state labor organizations; and state administrative agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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