Multi-faceted case management: reducing compensation costs of musculoskeletal work injuries in Australia
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to determine whether a multi-faceted model of management of work related musculoskeletal disorders reduced compensation claim costs and days of compensation for injured workers.Methods An intervention including early reporting, employee centred case management and removal of barriers to return to work was instituted in 16 selected companies with a combined remuneration over $337 million. Outcomes were evaluated by an administrative dataset from the Victorian WorkCover Authority database. A 'quasi experimental' pre-post design was employed with 492 matched companies without the intervention used as a control group and an average of 21 months of post-intervention follow-up. Primary outcomes were average number of days of compensation and average cost of claims. Secondary outcomes were total medical costs and weekly benefits paid.Results Information on 3,312 claims was analysed. In companies where the intervention was introduced the average cost of claims was reduced from $6,019 to $3,913 (estimated difference $2,329, 95 % CI $1,318-$3,340) and the number of days of compensation decreased from 33.5 to 14.1 (HR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.67-0.88). Medical costs and weekly benefits costs were also lower after the intervention (p < 0.05). Reduction in claims costs were noted across industry types, injury location and most employer sizes.Conclusions The model of claims management investigated was effective in reducing the number of days of compensation, total claim costs, total medical costs and the amount paid in weekly benefits. Further research should investigate whether the intervention improves non-financial outcomes in the return to work process.
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A preliminary search of the literature revealed multiple systematic reviews of interventions to improve recovery from MSK and orthopaedic injuries, many of which report changes in distress-related outcomes following the intervention.
“A preliminary search of the literature revealed multiple systematic reviews of interventions to improve recovery from MSK and orthopaedic injuries, many of which report changes in distress-related outcomes following the intervention.12 13 22 23”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Iles, R. A., Wyatt, M., & Pransky, G.
- Affiliations
- Université de Sherbrooke (CA)
- Monash University (AU)
- Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety (US)
- Corresponding author
- Iles, Ross Anthony
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2012-04-01
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 478-488
- ISSN
- 1053-0487 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3688
- OpenAlex
- W1981266057
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 10.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN53909)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- occupational injury compensation, case management, return to work, health care costs, injury management
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Occupational, Australia, Costs and Cost Analysis, Employment, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Industry, Insurance Claim Reporting, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Time Factors, Workers' Compensation, Linear Models, Survival Analysis, Case Management, Return to Work
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