The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Research and Evaluation Group released a study that shows medical care has improved for injured workers in Texas over the past several years. The study measures the effectiveness of the state’s workers’ comp system when it comes to delivering timely and appropriate access to care, also looking at doctor participation and retention.

They measured the percentage of patients receiving initial care within seven days for the years between 2005 and 2017 and found that 84 percent of patients received initial care in seven days or less in 2017 compared to 71 percent in 2005. That has held at a rate above 83 percent since 2009. Interestingly, delayed initial care correlated to higher total medical costs. In 2016, claims with a greater than seven-day delay had 39 percent higher medical costs on average in the first six months after injury.

Texas Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Cassie Brown said that ensuring employees have access to the care they need is a “win-win”, employers reduce their costs and employees receive the care they need.

In terms of doctor retention, researchers found that 80 percent of doctors who treat workers’ comp patients participate the following year. There was a 20 percent reduction in comp claims from 2005 to 2017, which caused a 24 percent decrease in the number of patients per doctor in Texas. In 2017 the average number of patients per physician was 14.8, compared to 19.4 in 2005.

“The study shows that Texas is helping injured employees more quickly and efficiently,” said Brown. “It also shows how committed doctors are to remaining in our workers’ comp system.”

Read the press release from TDI and read the full report here.