title: Do zero-cost workers' compensation medical claims really have zero costs? The impact of workplace injury on group health insurance utilization and costs.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our national estimates showed that zero-cost WC medical claims alone could cost the GHI $212 million per year.
authors: From the Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, DC.
authors: Abay
authors: A
authors: Asfaw
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Rosa
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Mao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data