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Is Employer-Directed Medical Care Associated With Decreased Workers’ Compensation Claim Costs?

BACKGROUND:The financial impact regarding choice of physician within the workers’ compensation domain has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess the difference in claim cost between employee- and employer-directed choice of treating physician after injury. METHODS:Thirt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2018-05, Vol.60 (5), p.e232-e237
Main Authors: Tao, Xuguang (Grant), Leung, Nina, Kalia, Nimisha, Lavin, Robert A, Yuspeh, Larry, Bernacki, Edward J
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:BACKGROUND:The financial impact regarding choice of physician within the workers’ compensation domain has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess the difference in claim cost between employee- and employer-directed choice of treating physician after injury. METHODS:Thirty-five thousand six hundred forty indemnity lost time claims from a 13-year period at a nationwide company were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression to determine the association of medical direction with risk of high-cost claims. RESULTS:States that have employer-directed physician choice were associated with a lower risk of having high-cost claims (≥$50,000) but higher attorney involvement than employee direction. The net effect of this enhanced presence of attorneys offsets the benefits of employer choice of treating physician. CONCLUSION:States that permit employer selection of treating physician have slightly higher cost due to the higher prevalence of attorney involvement in the claims process.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001247