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Texas comp regulators say provider networks save money

Posted On: Oct. 4, 2022 10:09 AM CST

Texas

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation said in its latest assessment of medical network claims that they tend to be more cost-efficient and have better return-to-work and functional outcomes compared with non-network claims.

Network claims also tended to receive initial non-emergency medical care more quickly than non-network claims, the division said.

The division reports 30 networks certified to provide work comp health care, of which 24 actively treated injured workers.

The average network medical cost six months post-injury was $2,886 in 2022, compared with the average non-network cost of $2,897. The gap was wider in 2021, when the average network cost was $2,531 and the average non-network cost was $2,721.

At the same time, the gap in average medical costs 18 months post-injury grew in 2022. The average network cost in 2022 was $3,372, down from $3,485 in 2021. The average non-network cost decreased slightly to $3,852 from $3,881.

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