Is the Recovery of the Workers’ Compensation System an Illusion?

The present economic downturn has been compared to the Great Depression of the 1930’s or the recession of the 1980’s. The factors that existed during those financial cycles need to be compared to the present political and economic dynamic to determine whether or not history is repeating itself. Analysis of those two periods provides an insight as to whether or not there will be a rebound or surge of claims in the future. The workers’ compensation system, based upon new national social and economic characteristics is already being re-crafted into a new program25 requiring less need for litigation support. Unlike the Great Depression of the 1930’s and the recession of the 1980’s, the present downturn in workers’ compensation claims activity is not anti- cyclical. It is an illusion of grandeur to believe that the present workers’ compensation system will recover or rebound in its present format. A national universal medical program will ultimately embrace the compensation delivery system and determine the future destiny of workers compensation