A study out from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) says that when the cost of medical care increases it does not have a significant effect on a workers’ recovery or their likelihood of returning to work, but workers did report fewer problems getting the care they wanted.

The study is titled “Workers’ Compensation Medical Prices and Outcomes of Injured Workers” and it combines surveys of injured workers with claims data to look at the relationship between workers’ compensation prices for medical services and the outcomes that workers experience after a work-related injury. They used data taken from interviews with injured workers in 14 states and claims data from 30 states.

They found that in areas where workers’ compensation pays less than group health insurers, increasing the price to be similar to those paid by group health results in more care being provided to injured workers, and a small increase in the duration of temporary disability. They found little change in access to care, recovery of physical health, and the speed and likelihood of returning to work.

In areas where workers’ comp prices are typically higher than group health prices, increasing workers’ compensation prices to be even higher may lead to fewer concern about access to providers, somewhat faster time to non-emergency visits with physicians, and somewhat more care provided to injured workers, but little change in measures of recovery of physical health and functioning, speed and likelihood of return to work, and duration of temporary disability.

States adjust medical fee schedules often, but prices vary significantly between states. In Wisconsin for example, overall prices for medical services were three times higher than in Florida. This study suggests that even though worker outcomes differ across states, these differences may not be due to differences in medical prices for workers’ comp services.

“One of the concerns that is often expressed is that when workers’ compensation prices are set too low, workers would experience problems getting timely access to medical care. This, in turn, would lead to poor recovery and problems with achieving timely return to work,” said John Ruser, president and CEO of WCRI. “However, prior evidence about the relationship between workers’ compensation prices and outcomes was limited until this study.”

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