Workers Compensation - Technology & Statistics Section

The Technology and Statistics Section is responsible for delivering workers compensation information to the Kansas Department of Labor, the legislature, and the general public through annual statistical reports, a web site, annual seminars, and reports from research studies and evaluations. To accomplish this most effectively, this unit functions as database administrator and is intimately involved with the division’s information systems. The Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor continues to maintain and manage the Workers Compensation’s information technology artifacts.

Specifically, this unit is responsible for research studies mandated by statute, including studies of closed claims and the effectiveness of the Workers Compensation Act. The staff also respond to individual research requests from both internal and external customers, performing survey instrument research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting.

Technology and Statistics maintains several data marts of workers compensation claims information on work-related injuries and occupational illnesses in the state of Kansas. Unit staff, in conjunction with the Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor, work to maintain and enhance the database to ensure data integrity and accuracy for both the division's administrative and statistical needs. In addition, the unit launched and continues to manage all content for the division's Web pages located on the Labor Department Web site.

The Technology and Statistics unit also administers the division’s statutory Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) program, an electronic method for insurance carriers and self-insured employers to report work-related injuries, occupational illnesses, and workers compensation claims costs data by utilizing the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions’ (IAIABC) national data standard. The program went into production in November, 2003. By the close of fiscal year 2005 more than 40 trading partners, sending on behalf of more than 200 insurance carriers and self-insured employers, were sending first and subsequent reports of injury to the division via EDI. Perhaps more importantly, by that time the average weekly volume of EDI first reports of injury reached a level more than one-third of the total number of accident reports filed with the division (total includes paper and EDI reports). A new Release 1 implementation guide (version 2) was completed and went into effect on July 1, 2005.

The unit has also worked with insurance carriers, the division’s Coverage and Compliance unit, the Information Services division, and the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) to implement three innovations in proof of coverage reporting and information access. First, at the end of FY2005 the division launched a new web-based coverage verification service which allows external users access to coverage information over the Department of Labor Web site. Second, in April of 2005, the unit led the launching of a new digital data exchange between the division and insurers. The unit worked with all internal stakeholders to create a proof of coverage data warehouse that makes digitally submitted reports available to other units.

The unit’s latest major project has been to assist division-wide in the implementation of a document imaging process in order to consolidate, by means of electronic storage, as much of the division’s data on the workers compensation system in Kansas as possible or appropriate, and to make this data accessible via the division’s production database screens. Tech & Stats staff also provide training of other staff on creating imaged document files and accessing the database to retrieve them. As with other claims records in the database, the unit is responsible for ensuring the system is performing as intended and preparing work orders for system maintenance.

For assistance, e-mail Alan Stanton - alan.stanton@dol.ks.gov
or contact us at:

Kansas Department of Labor
Workers Compensation
800 SW Jackson, Suite 600
Topeka, KS 66612-1227
(785) 296-4120.