P.1.19 Increased benefit generosity and the impact on workers’ compensation claiming behaviour: an interrupted time series study in victoria, australia

ObjectiveTo measure the effect of legislated increases to workers’ compensation benefits on claiming behaviour.MethodsInterrupted time series of workers’ compensation claims in Victoria, Australia (2008–2012), assessing 1) the overall effect of the legislation and 2) raising the wage replacement cap on higher earners, by condition type, in reference to a comparator of other Australian workers’ compensation jurisdictions.ResultsOverall claiming increased 11.7%, driven largely by musculoskeletal condition claims. There was no detectable effect on disability duration overall, though back/neck conditions were up 26.9%. Among higher earners, there was mixed evidence of an increase in claiming, though disability durations were up 32.9%, which was also driven by back/neck conditions. There was mixed evidence of an effect on mental health claims, suggesting either no response or a negative response to benefit generosity.ConclusionsFindings mainly align with existing evidence: more generous benefits increase claiming and disability durations, primarily driven by back/neck musculoskeletal conditions. However, some mixed findings by injury group and among higher earners raise questions about confounders such as co-occurring events.

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Impact of legislative reform on benefit access and disability duration in workers’ compensation: an interrupted time series study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2019-106063 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 32-39

Author(s):

Alex Collie ◽

Dianne Beck ◽

Shannon Elise Gray ◽

Tyler Jeremiah Lane

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Work Disability ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Decision Time ◽

Workers Compensation ◽

Compensation Scheme ◽

Legislative Reform ◽

Time Series Study ◽

Compensation Claims ◽

Series Study

ObjectivesTo determine the impact of legislative changes to the New South Wales (NSW) workers’ compensation scheme on injured workers access to benefits, insurer claim processing and work disability duration.MethodsPopulation-based interrupted time series study of workers’ compensation claims made in NSW 2 years before and after legislative amendment in June 2012. Outcomes included incidence of accepted claims per 100 000 workers, the median and 75th percentile insurer decision time in days, and the median and 75th percentile of work disability duration in weeks. Effects were assessed relative to a comparator of seven other Australian workers’ compensation jurisdictions.Resultsn=1 069 231 accepted workers’ compensation claims were analysed. Claiming in NSW fell 15.3% following legislative reform, equivalent to 46.6 fewer claims per 100 000 covered workers per month. This effect was greater in time loss claims (17.3%) than medical-only claims (10.3%). Across models, there were consistent trend increases in insurer decision time. Median work disability duration increased following the legislative reform.ConclusionsThe observed reduction in access to benefits was consistent with the policy objective of improving the financial sustainability of the compensation scheme. However, this was accompanied by changes in other markers of performance that were unintended, and are suggestive of adverse health consequences of the reform. This study demonstrates the need for care in reform of workers’ compensation scheme policy.

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