Citation

Nelson CJ, Bigley DP, Mallon TM. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2015; 57(Suppl 3S): S20-S26.

Affiliation

From the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000368

PMID

25741610

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: This study of Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees Workers' Compensation (WC) claims for chargeback year 2000 through 2012 aimed to analyze the frequency, rates, and costs of WC claims representing 5% of the DoD annual personnel budget.

METHODS:: A multiyear cross-sectional study of WC claims data identified the top five most frequent causes, natures, and anatomical sites; changes in frequency, worker age, costs, and time were evaluated for trends.

RESULTS:: The annual frequency and rate of new DoD WC claims decreased over time, whereas costs per new claim have increased. New claim frequencies, rates, and costs aggregated in older age groups.

CONCLUSIONS:: The increasing trend in costs of each claim and the overall program costs presents a need for case management. Analysis of WC claims data is necessary to help target injury prevention efforts and reduce program costs.

Language: en