@article{ref1,
title="Do zero-cost workers' compensation medical claims really have zero costs? The impact of workplace injury on group health insurance utilization and costs",
journal="Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine",
year="2013",
author="Asfaw, Abay and Rosa, Roger and Mao, Rebecca",
volume="55",
number="12",
pages="1394-1400",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1076-2752",
doi="10.1097/JOM.0000000000000030",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000030"
}