Study: Claim Costs Impacted by Who Chooses the Provider

States that allow employers to choose a health care provider for an injured worker have a lower average medical cost per claim than states where employees can choose their provider, according to a study by Liberty Mutual Insurance. But in states where the worker is allowed to change providers one time, average medical costs and the length of disability are lower than in states where the worker is not allowed to switch, according to the study, which analyzes claims for lower back pain. “Some employees might feel dissatisfied with certain providers,” the authors said. “If the...