Claim Size, Length Influence Mix of Medical Services, NCCI Says

Ambulatory surgery center and outpatient hospital services made up the largest share of medical costs for lost-time workers’ comp claims in 2011-2013, with 22.3% of the total, according to a new research brief from the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Prescription drugs ranked No. 2 in terms of medical costs, at 14.6%, followed by inpatient hospital costs, at 13.7%. But those percentages vary depending on the size and maturity of the claim, NCCI said. For example, prescription drugs become the largest category of costs in claims of less than $1 million after the fifth year, ...