title: Factors influencing the costs of workers' compensation.
abstract: This article presents several factors believed to have shaped the costs of workers' compensation. Of these factors, the most notable influence on claims severity is related to the way medical care is delivered to treat occupational injuries and illnesses. Although medical care providers may have some influence on the other factors responsible for increased claims severity, such as attorney costs and differences in state workers' compensation laws, they have a tremendous impact on the way medical care is delivered and its resultant costs. This places physicians, nurse practitioners,physical therapists, chiropractors, nurses, and physician assistants in a unique role of being able to assist US business in improving productivity through a reduction in workers' compensation costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Environmental Health Sciences, Division of Occupational Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Billings Administration Room 129, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. bernacki@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bernacki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D004651:Employment; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence