Citation

Asfaw A, Rosa R, Mao R. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2013; 55(12): 1394-1400.

Affiliation

From the Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, DC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000030

PMID

24316724

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Previous research suggests that non-workers' compensation (WC) insurance systems, such as group health insurance (GHI), Medicare, or Medicaid, at least partially cover work-related injury and illness costs. This study further examined GHI utilization and costs. METHODS: Using two-part model, we compared those outcomes immediately after injuries for which accepted WC medical claims made zero or positive medical payments. RESULTS: Controlling for pre-injury GHI utilization and costs and other covariates, our results indicated that post-injury GHI utilization and costs increased regardless of whether a WC medical claim was zero or positive. The increases were highest for zero-cost WC medical claims. CONCLUSION: Our national estimates showed that zero-cost WC medical claims alone could cost the GHI $212 million per year.

Language: en