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The cost of compensable low back pain
1Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Hopkinton, MA 01748.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Low back pain claims in 1986 cost an average of $6807 per case, with indemnity costs significantly higher than medical expenses. Total U.S. compensable costs reached an estimated $11.1 billion.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Health Economics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low back pain is a significant cause of disability and healthcare expenditure.
- Understanding the economic burden of low back pain is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the cost components of low back pain claims.
- To estimate the total economic impact of low back pain in the United States.
Main Methods:
- Retrieved cost data from 98,999 low back pain claims initiated in 1986.
- Utilized computerized records from Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
- Calculated mean and median costs per case, and analyzed cost distribution between medical and indemnity payments.
Main Results:
- The mean cost per low back pain case was $6807, with a median of $391.
- Indemnity costs constituted 67.2% of total costs, while medical costs accounted for 31.5%.
- Estimated total compensable cost for low back pain in the U.S. was $11.1 billion, with significant state-level cost variations.
Conclusions:
- Low back pain represents a substantial economic burden in the United States.
- Indemnity payments are the primary cost driver for low back pain claims.
- Variations in costs across states highlight the need for further investigation into contributing factors.