More coordination in comp could help cross psych barriers

It is well-documented that psychosocial factors can hinder return to work for injured workers, and a new white paper by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute says that improved coordination of care between mental health professionals and other providers can help create a strategy for timely return to work.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based research organization released its comprehensive findings Tuesday after surveying the workers compensation industry on behavioral health issues effects on worker recovery. Specifically, the authors interviewed employers, insurers, labor advocates and medical care providers.

Factors that delay recovery include poor recovery expectations after an injury, fear of pain due to movement, catastrophizing, perceived injustice, job satisfaction, pessimism, being fearful in general, no motivation, and lack of family or community support.

Early screening of potential behavioral issues stands out as a best practice when it comes to identifying potential hurdles, according to WCRI.

Researchers said that regular meetings between mental health professionals and other treating providers and claims managers should be organized to coordinate mental health care: “Timely delivery of behavioral health care is recognized as an effective approach to resolving psychosocial risk factors that delay recovery.”

As for treatment, research on the effectiveness of behavioral health treatments are evolving, as workers compensation guideline increasingly address matters pertaining to mental health in the treatment of injured workers, according to WCRI, which names “brief and time-limited” cognitive behavioral therapy as the most common approach, as opposed to traditional psychotherapy.

The paper also highlighted “significant gaps” in available data on mental health treatment in workers compensation, which is likely connected to medical coding and billing protocols in the industry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the importance of behavioral health,” said John Ruser, president and CEO of WCRI, in a statement. “In particular, workers compensation stakeholders recognize that unaddressed behavioral health issues might delay a worker’s recovery and return to work and increase medical costs.”