Focus on Co-Morbidities in Claims Sharpens as Workforce Ages

The U.S. workforce is growing both older and heavier, driving an intensifying interest in the workers’ comp industry on employee wellness programs, some say. About half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030, according to Eric Patten, senior director of clinical services at One Call. The statistic comes from the Trust for America’s Health. And the increase in weight is leading to higher costs that are prompting insurance companies to pay more attention to the trend, Patten said. For example, a piece of durable medical equipment such as a walker may cost twice as much if an...