Citation

Williams JAR, Sorensen G, Hashimoto D, Hopcia K, Wagner GR, Boden LI. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2017; 59(6): e119-e124.

Affiliation

University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas (Dr Williams); Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Sorensen); Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Sorensen); Partners HealthCare, Boston, Massachusetts (Drs Hashimoto, Hopcia); Boston College Law School, Newton, Massachusetts (Dr Hashimoto); Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Hashimoto); Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Wagner); and Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Boden).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001047

PMID

28598939

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the extent to which work-related injuries contribute to medical expenditures paid for by group health insurance.

METHODS: Administrative data on OSHA recordable injuries spanning 2010 to 2013 were obtained for female patient care workers (n = 2495). Expenditures were aggregated group health insurance claims for 3 and 6-month periods before/after injury. Group health insurance plan type, age group, and job category were control variables.

RESULTS: Being injured is associated with the odds of having expenditures at both 3 months, odds ratio (OR) 2.17 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.61 to 2.92], and 6 months, 2.95 (95% CI 1.96 to 4.45). Injury was associated with $275 of additional expenditures (95% CI $38 to $549) over 3 months and $587 of additional expenditures (95% CI $167 to $1140) over 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Injury was associated with increased odds of positive expenditures and increased expenditures paid for by group health insurance.

Language: en