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Calif. self-insureds saw comp medical decline

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California

California public self-insured employers saw workers compensation medical claim volume fall more than 6% in fiscal year 2019, but indemnity payments per claim increased during that same period, according to a study released Friday by the California Workers Compensation Institute.

Oakland, California-based CWCI analyzed public self-insured data from June 30, 2019, through June 30, 2020, finding that average indemnity payments per workers compensation claim rose nearly 17%, with total benefits paid increasing by $2.2 million to $414.9 million during the time period, marking the sixth increase in a row.

Public self-insureds reported 108,000 claims in FY 2019, a decrease of more than 7,000 from FY 2018, and the biggest decline in the past decade, according to the research. While total workers comp medical payment accounted for $170.6 million in FY 2019 — a nearly 10% from FY 2018 — indemnity payments increased nearly 10% to $244.3 million during the same period. Some of the indemnity increase may be tied to longer temporary disability durations due to treatment delays from government shutdowns from March to June 2020, according to the study.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.

 

 

 

 

 

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