OBJECTIVES : Use objective data to compare patients with Bone diseases (BONE) all-cause utilization of short- and long-term disability (STD and LTD, respectively) and workers' compensation (WC), and explore changes over time.

METHODS : Retrospective analysis using the WorkPartners Research Reference Database (RRDb) from 2001—2019. Each-year, employees with medical-claims for BONE were identified. For each benefit analysis of the percent of eligible employees utilizing the benefit, leave-length(in-days) and median payments as a percent of salary (MedianPay). Years were compared to baseline(2001). Disability/WC-payments included lump-sum-distributions and potentially extended beyond the year initially-incurred. Workplace-accidents were paid under the WC-benefit and WC-claims without absence from work (medical-only) were excluded. Because sick-leave(SL) may be taken for any reason, leaves and payments under the SL-benefit were excluded. All claims-filed for the employees with BONE were included based on the year initiated. For each benefit, average leave-length and MedianPay were calculated and compared with baseline(2001).

RESULTS : At baseline, 10.3% of the employees had medical-claims for BONE; of these, 13.5% filed STD-claims, 0.5% filed LTD-claims, and 1.9% filed WC-claims. STD-claims were 39 mean-days and paid 70.5% of salary (median); LTD-claims were 180.9 mean-days and paid 30.6% of salary; and WC-claims were 44.6 mean-days and paid 67.0% of salary. From 2002—2019: 11.5%—16.3% of eligible-employees filed STD-claims lasting 83.4%—129.7% of baseline days(BDs) and 66.4%—129.4% of MedianPay. From 2002—2019: 0.6%—1.3% of eligible employees filed LTD-claims lasting 62.8%—385.1% of BDs and 84.7%—195.0% of MedianPay. From 2002—2019: 0.7%—2.0% of eligible-employees filed WC-claims lasting 141.1%—413.8% of BDs and 86.4%—141.8% of MedianPay. MedianPay was highest in 2011(STD), 2002(LTD), and 2005(WC). Claims-lengths were longest in 2019(STD), 2009(LTD) and 2010(WC).

CONCLUSIONS : Employees with bone diseases used different absence benefits over time with varying leave lengths and median payments as a % of salary. Using a constant cost over time for all benefits is not accurate or appropriate.