Drug-free claims have most successful closure rate for injured workers

Drug-free claims lead the pack when it comes to successful closure rates in workers compensation, according to a recent study.

An analysis of 22,383 Michigan workers compensation claims from 2008 to 2013 found that those of injured workers who took no drugs had the highest closure rate, at 91.8%, according the study by AF Group and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, published in April’s Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Ryan Artuso, Lansing, Michigan-based senior data scientist of predictive modeling for comp insurer AF Group, said drug-free is a new focus for study, as those examined in the most recent study are all indemnity claims with three-year maturity.

“We want to take a further dive into the specifics of this group,” he said. “They seem to have the best outcomes with chronic pain, but no medication.”