Evaluation of the Washington State Workers' Compensation Managed Care Pilot Project I: medical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES. This study examined the effect of managed care on medical outcomes and patient satisfaction as part of an evaluation of the Washington State Workers' Compensation Managed Care Pilot. METHODS. One hundred twenty firms (7,041 employees) agreed to have their injured workers treated in managed-care plans. Managed care introduced two changes from the fee-for-service (FFS) delivery system currently used by injured workers in Washington State: (1) experiencerated capitation, and (2) a primary occupationalmedicine delivery model. The FFS control group included injured workers employed at 392 firms (12,000 employees). A total of 1,313 workers who experienced occupationally related injuries or illnesses between April 1995 and June 1996 were interviewed by telephone at 6 weeks after injury regarding their medical outcomes and satisfaction with care. Workers whose injuries resulted in four or more lost workdays (n = 372) were also interviewed at 6 months after injury on the same topics. The areas surveyed included functional outcomes and satisfaction with care, providers, and access to providers.