The Impact of Provider Choice on Workers' Compensation Costs and Outcomes

Bibliographic Data

ID3496733
AuthorsDavid Neumark (0000-0002-7681-1884, National Bureau of Economic Research), Peter S Barth (University of Connecticut), Richard B Victor (Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia), Richard A Victor
Year2007
Volume61
Issue1
Pages121-142
Publication date2007-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueIndustrial and Labor Relations Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0019-7939 • E-ISSN: 2162-271X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/001979390706100107
OpenAlexW1846614335
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited7

Using survey data collected in 2002 and 2003 in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas on workers injured 3 to 3.5 years earlier, coupled with information on the associated workers' compensation claims from the Workers Compensation Research Institute, the authors examine how provider choice in workers' compensation is related to costs and to workers' outcomes. They find that employee choice of the provider, by comparison with employer choice, was associated with higher costs and worse return-to-work outcomes. Although the same rate of physical recovery was found for both groups, workers who chose their providers reported higher satisfaction with medical care. The higher costs and worse return-to-work outcomes associated with employee choice arose largely when employees selected a new provider, rather than a provider with whom they had a pre-existing relationship. The findings lend some support to recent policy changes limiting workers' ability to choose a provider with whom they do not have a prior relationship

Actuarial science · Business · Compensation (psychology) · Demographic economics · Economics · Labour economics · Limiting · Work (physics) · Workers' compensation · Healthcare Policy and Management · Psychology · Social Psychology

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