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Published critiques identified numerous problems with current workers' compensation policy.

• Coverage remains less than universal, and benefit adequacy is insufficient.
• Problems remain in disability determination and medical treatment.
• Challenges remain in vocational rehabilitation and return to work.
• Safety promotion practices have been somewhat successful but create complex claiming incentives.
• System complexity is a drag on performance.

Stakeholders identified many shortcomings of workers' compensation policy as important challenges to worker outcomes.

• New approaches to injury prevention and disability management are needed.
• Declining coverage of workers and health conditions prevents workers' compensation from serving its purposes.
• Inefficient claim management and dispute resolution processes harm workers and drive up costs.
• Health care for injured workers is often fragmented and of low quality and is not designed to reward worker outcomes.

Policy priorities and research needs suggest a two-pronged research agenda for improving workers' compensation policy.

• Stakeholders attached a high priority to development of new models and interventions for health care delivery, injury prevention, dispute resolution, and disability prevention.
• Scientific evidence on causation is badly needed to guide workers' compensation systems in handling occupational disease and preexisting conditions.