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Abstract #151492

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Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH, CPWR-The Center for Cosntruction Research and Training, 8484 Georgia Ave. Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-578-8500, sdong@cpwr.com

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess Hispanic and white, non-Hispanic construction workers with regard to medical costs of occupational injuries and various sources of payment for such costs. Methods: A large national population survey — the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 1996 through 2002 was analyzed for more than 7,000 construction workers, including 1,833 Hispanic workers. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. Results: Annually, work-related injuries in construction (including self-employment) cost $1.4 billion (2002 dollar value), of which less than $630 million were paid by workers' compensation, accounting for 46% of the total medical costs. Hispanic workers were 53% more likely to have a work-related injury condition than their white counterparts. Injured Hispanic workers and their families had more self-pay for medical costs than whites. Among Hispanics, less than 30% of medical costs of their work-related injuries were paid by workers' compensation, significantly lower than the 50% that was paid for white workers (p < .05). Conclusions: This study suggests an urgent need to reform the current workers' compensation system to reduce the burden shifted to injured workers and society.

Learning Objectives:

• Provide health and health services information on Hispanic construction workers
• Develop strategies to reform workers’ compensation systems and improve workers’ health

Keywords: Construction Injuries, Workers' Compensation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout