Studies have shown that Hispanic workers experience a disproportionately high rate of work-relate injuries compared to non-Hispanic workers. However, Florida data do not consistently reflect this pattern. In analyses using Florida datasets that rely on workers’ compensation as a proxy for work-relatedness, Hispanics seem to have a lower rate of work-related injuries. It is suspected that Hispanic workers in Florida file workers’ compensation less often than non-Hispanic white or black workers. This study sought to determine race/ethnicity differences in the use of workers’ compensation.
METHODS:
Data from the Florida Trauma Registry, which collects patient data from trauma centers throughout the state, was used for this analysis and limited to records that were work-related from 2010 through 2013. Information about sex, race/ethnicity, age, expected payor, and severity were included in the analysis. Race/ethnicity was defined as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic. Payor categories included workers’ compensation, insurance (e.g., private, Medicaid, Medicare), and self-pay. Severity was based on an injury severity score and categorized as mild (0–8), moderate (9–15), and severe (16+). Analysis was conducted using Multinomial Logistic Regression to calculate the odds of self-pay and insurance use compared to workers’ compensation use by race/ethnicity while controlling for other factors.
RESULTS:
A total of 3,437 work-related trauma registry records were analyzed. Hispanic workers were more likely to use self-pay instead of workers’ compensation compared to white (odds ratio [OR]=3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.42,3.80) or black (OR=2.35, 95% CI=1.70,3.26) workers. There were no significant differences in the use of workers’ compensation and other insurance by race/ethnicity. Males were more likely to use self-pay instead of workers’ compensation (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.01,2.38). Workers with mild injuries were more likely to use self-pay instead of workers’ compensation compared to workers with moderate (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.11,1.89) or severe (OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.05,1.92) injuries.
CONCLUSIONS:
This analysis supports the hypothesis that Hispanic workers in Florida file workers’ compensation claims at a lower rate than non-Hispanic white or black workers. It also highlights the increased use of self-pay for work-related injuries among Hispanics. While other studies have found that workers’ compensation is underutilized for work-related injuries, this study demonstrates that in Florida the underutilization likely differs by race/ethnicity. The undercounting of Florida work-related injuries in datasets that utilize workers’ compensation as a proxy for work-relatedness, such as the emergency room or hospitalization datasets, will likely have a greater impact on estimates among Hispanic workers.