State Differences in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Joint Injuries

An important objective in delivering workers compensation medical benefits is ensuring an appropriate level of care to injured workers. Either excessive or inadequate care may result in poor outcomes. Jurisdictions employ various tools for utilization management such as independent medical exams, utilization review, and treatment guidelines to help ensure the appropriate level of care to achieve the best outcomes for injured workers. Various studies have identified differences in the treatment of workers compensation (WC) injuries by state, especially back injuries. This study takes a look at state differences in the treatment of joint cases by looking at differences in mix and quantity of services for relatively objective injuries—those involving knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle.