141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

286516
Struggling for care: Impact of workers' compensation reform on injured workers access to medical care in New York state


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 11:18 a.m. - 11:34 a.m.

Michael B. Lax, MD MPH, Family Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University, Occupational Health Clinical Centers, Syracuse, NY
Jeanette Zoeckler, MPH, Occupational Health Clinical Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Evan Sherman, BA MPH (Expected 2013), Occupational Health Clinical Centers, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
     
Background In 2007 New York State legislated a major reform of the Workers' Compensation system. Significant changes to the process of obtaining medical care and assessing permanent impairment were important aspects of the reform. A study was undertaken to evaluate two aspects of access to care: 1) How difficult is it for patients with potentially work related injuries or illnesses to locate a physician who accepts Workers' Compensation? 2) What impact have the newly legislated medical treatment guidelines had on the time it takes for patients to access diagnostic testing and treatment?

Methods A telephone survey of physician practices listed by the Workers' Compensation Board as accepting Workers' Compensation was undertaken to assess how many actually do accept Workers' Compensation insurance. A chart review of patients seen at the OHC was undertaken to compare the length of time required to obtain diagnostic testing and/or treatment post reform to pre reform.

Results For most medical specialties large differences were found between those listed by the WCB and those actually accepting Workers' Compensation. For conditions covered by the Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs) time to testing or treatment was significantly reduced post reform.

Conclusions New York's 2007 Workers' Compensation reform has been associated with mixed results for injured workers' access to medical care. The implications and reasons for the serious decline in physician acceptance of Workers' Compensation insurance will be examined. Discussion will also address issues that may negatively impact the identified improvement in the time to testing/treatment.

Learning Areas:

Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Explain reasons for and implication of the lack of physician participation in Workers’ Compensation systems. Assess the impact of Workers’ Compensation reform on patient access to timely testing/treatment

Keyword(s): Access to Health Care, Occupational Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Medical Director of the Occupational Health Clinical Centers for the past 25 years. As a clinician I am routinely involved with patients and the Workers' Compensation. As a researcher I have assessed various aspects of the Workers' Compensation system.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3163.0: Spectrum of Surveillance: from Electronic Health Records to Workers Compensation