Study: Consolidating Health Care Systems Results in Higher Comp Costs

The vertical integration of care in consolidated medical systems results in higher claim costs and longer recovery times for workers injured on the job, according to a study released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based institute examined the impact of consolidated hospital and health system networks, focusing on care provided to workers who suffered a work-related injury between 2012 and 2018. The study covers the main specialties of medical professionals who treat a large share of workers with injuries, including physicians and non...