The study used data from California’s Office of Statewide Health and Planning Development from 2008. Researchers found that 70 percent of the 5,070 workers’ comp cases had at least one procedure code indicating that hardware or instrumentation was used.
Researchers also found that depending on the diagnostic group, the average additional payments ranged between $10,870 and $25,478 with an overall average of $15,409 for all pass-through payments. The institute estimated that in 2008, $55 million in pass-through payments was added to the basic inpatient hospital facility fees paid for workers’ comp spinal surgeries.
The California Workers’ Compensation Institute’s coverage of California pass-through payments.
Read other coverage on workers’ compensation:
– Workers’ Compensation Patients May Experience Less Improvement After Lumbar Fusion
– Idaho Orthopedic Group Settle Antitrust Suit Involving Boycott of Workers’ Compensation Patients
