Attributes of Long Duration COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Claims. Issue 5 (15th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bernacki, Edward J.; Hunt, Dan L.; Tsourmas, Nicholas F.; Yuspeh, Larry; Lavin, Robert A.; Kalia, Nimisha; Leung, Nina; Willams, Leila; Green-McKenzie, Judith; Tao, Xuguang (Grant)
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 64:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: e327
• Page End: e332
• Publication Date: 2022-05-15
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- indemnity cost -- lost time -- medical cost -- return-to- work -- workers' compensation; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Controlling for industrial category and gender, age was the predominant factor associated with a prolonged disability due to a work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection. Older workers who develop COVID-19 require more vigilance and planning by physicians to help reintegrate these workers back into the workplace. Abstract : Objective: To examine the attributes associated with long duration COVID- 19 workers' compensation (WC) claims. Methods: A study was conducted on 13, 153 COVID-19 WC claims accepted by a workers' compensation insurance carrier between January 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021. Results: 1) Ninety-five percent of accepted WC claims were closed within the study period; 2) five percent of claims had 30 days or longer of lost time accounting for 65% of total paid WC costs; 3) medical costs increased 8-fold once paid days lost crossed the threshold of 60 days or greater; 4) age was the strongest risk factor associated with increased WC costs and prolonged impairment. Conclusion: Age at the time of infection was the major factor associated with prolonged impairment and high costs of COVID-19 related WC claims.