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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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Published in: | Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2018-05, Vol.60 (5), p.e232-e237 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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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. |
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ISSN: | 1076-2752 1536-5948 |
DOI: | 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001247 |