In the wake of the healthcare-reform law, cost shifting of non-work-related injuries to the workers' compensation remains a potential issue, and potential stress on the healthcare system could lead to delays and drive workers' comp costs up, says broker Marsh in a briefing.

But the law's focus on improvements in standards of care could reduce the use of costly procedures that produce questionable results, and employers could see premium refunds if they maintain better-than-expected performance in their healthcare programs, Marsh says.

In its analysis, "Health Care Reform and Workers' Compensation Programs," Marsh says, "Employers have long been concerned that injuries from non-work-related causes will be shifted to workers' compensation" due to higher reimbursement rates for medical providers and the lack of deductibles and co-payments for employees. While some speculated that the greater access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act would reduce cost shifting to workers' comp, Marsh says it has "become clear that the law will not result in all Americans having health-insurance coverage."