This study can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers in the Minnesota workers’ compensation system.

It also shows how medical payments per claim and their cost components in Minnesota compared with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

Minnesota passed legislation, effective January 1, 2016, to regulate hospital inpatient fees on the basis of Medicare diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) rather than a charge-based approach. This study provides information on trends in inpatient patients from a very early window of experience under the new fee regulations.

This study covers the period of 2011 to 2016, with claims experience through 2017. Where relevant, findings from other WCRI studies are added to provide a more complete picture of the system.

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Minnesota, 19th Edition. Sharon E. Belton. October 2018. WC-18-32.

Copyright: WCRI