THE COST OF 1989 WORKERS COMPENSATION LOW-BACK-PAIN CLAIMS

Study Design. Cost data were gathered from computerized records of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for low back pain workers' compensat ion claims (N = 119,107) and for all claims (N = 731,087) initiated fr om 45 jurisdictions (states) during 1989. Objective. This study provid ed more current, accurate, and additional information to estimate the costs and incidence associated with compensable low back pain compared with all compensation claims Methods. The first group of data include d all compensable low back claims selected by specific codes: body par t codes consisted of low back area, sacrum and coccyx, disc, and multi ple trunk; injury codes consisted of strain, sprain, inflammation, rup ture hernia, fracture, and contusion. The second sample included all c ompensable claims, including both occupational injuries and illnesses. Results. Low back pain cases represented 16% of all claims but 33% of all claims costs; 55.4% of the low back pain cases received medical p ayments only (i.e., did not receive indemnity payments for lost time). The mean cost per case for low back pain was $8321; median cost per c ase was $396. Medical costs represented 32.4% of the total costs; inde mnity costs (i.e payment for lost time) represented 65.8%. Conclusions . Since indemnity costs represent the greatest percentage of workers' compensation expenditure, the primary goal of low back pain management should be the prevention or reduction of prolonged disability.