Comp Network 'Report Card' Shows Higher Costs, Better Results

By Bill Kidd, Central Bureau ChiefThe average cost of medical care in Texas' workers' compensation system was higher for health care networks than for  non-network care in 2010, a report by the state Department of Insurance's Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group shows.But the report also shows that average medical costs in networks increased less after six months of services compared to non-network care, and networks had higher return-to-work rates for injured employees than did non-network employees.Workers’ compensation system participants are revi...