Do Zero-Cost Workers' Compensation Medical Claims Really Have Zero Costs? The Impact of Workplace Injury on Group Health Insurance Utilization and Costs

作者：Asfaw Abay^*; Rosa Roger; Mao Rebecca

来源：Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2013, 55(12): 1394-1400.

DOI：10.1097/JOM.0000000000000030

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.

• 出版日期2013-12