WCRI: Psychosocial factors delay workplace-injury recovery

The most common injury-related behavioral health issues for workers’ compensation in the state of New York are psychosocial and often serve as barriers to recovery, according to the latest study from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

The data showed neurologic spine pain injuries comprise the largest share of behavioral health services claims at roughly 41%. Back and neck sprains and strains, upper extremity fractures, lacerations and contusions are other common injuries.

The most billed treatments are psychotherapy, neuropsychological and psychological testing. Common barriers to returning to work include poor recovery expectations, fear of pain due to movement, catastrophizing, distress, perceived injustice, job dissatisfaction, and lack of family or support systems.

New York state’s regulatory framework allows additional insight into coding and billing patterns associated with the provision of behavioral health services to injured workers, the WCRI said in the report. Roughly 3% of all indemnity claims have services billed under the behavioral health section of the New York workers’ compensation medical fee schedule. Behavioral health services made up 8% of the total medical payments for those claims.

Meanwhile, 45% of all claims had both behavioral health assessments and treatments, according to the report. Nearly 40% include just the assessment, and 16% include just the treatment.

“It took roughly five months for workers to receive behavioral health services from the date of injury or disability,” the WCRI said. “Billing was clustered in the New York City area, about 72% of services versus 28% in other areas of the state or outside.”

See also:

• The multidimensional path to employee wellness
• Swiss Re: Challenges ahead for workers’ comp market
• Mental health crisis for U.S. workers widens despite increased awareness