Total workers compensation health care costs in Texas in 2017 were $1.01 billion, slightly down from $1.06 billion in 2016, according to a report issued Friday by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Total professional costs decreased by 3.2% from 2016 and by 23% from 2000, according to the new data. Hospital costs in 2017 decreased by 2.7% from 2016, but were 16% higher than in 2000. Total costs for pharmacy services decreased by 22% from 2016 and were 47% lower than in 2005.
The data used in the report consisted of medical billing and payment data submitted by insurers to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, covering professional, hospital/institutional, dental and pharmacy services.
Other findings included:
The number of Texas employers who do not carry workers compensation insurance for their employees increased 6 percentage points between 2016 and 2018, according to a biennial report from the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation.