Delayed workers’ comp recovery can cost employers millions in lost productivity, higher claims and increased insurance premiums. For organizations managing large teams of manual laborers, even a few extended absences can strain management, payroll and workflow.
Nurse-led, in-home services from BrightStar Care® help employees recover faster so they can safely return to work more quickly, reducing the overall financial burden. Below, we explore why delayed recovery occurs, its root causes, the economic toll it creates and how proactive, personalized care can improve return-to-work (RTW) outcomes.
Why Delayed Recovery Matters
When employees struggle with ongoing pain or limited mobility from delayed recovery from an injury, it negatively impacts their recovery, increasing their risk of physical complications, emotional distress and frustration with their care experience. These challenges can reduce their likelihood of adhering to their treatment plan, prolonging time away from work.
Recovery delays typically mean higher claims costs, longer absences, and increased insurance premiums for employers and third-party administrators (TPAs). Extended absences also put a strain on internal resources because they require time and effort for things like management, oversight, and workers’ comp care coordination.
Research in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy shows that delayed recovery and rehabilitation timelines can lead to persistent or recurring symptoms, increased injury recurrence, and prolonged injury-related medical care, all of which impact workplace performance, operational efficiency, and the bottom line.
Rising Costs for Employers and TPAs
Workers’ comp recovery delay costs take a short- and long-term toll on employers and TPAs. Here’s how:
- Increased medical expenses from prolonged recovery
- Growing workers’ comp payout amounts over time
- Administrative and legal costs from extended claims
Impact on Productivity and Premiums
- Lost workdays and decreased output
- Costs of wage replacement, interim labor, or overtime
- Higher insurance premiums tied to lengthy claims
Timely, nurse-led, in-home interventions can support faster recoveries and shorter claim periods, helping mitigate productivity costs and minimize the compounding organizational effects of prolonged claims.
Root Causes of Delayed Recovery
There are several causes of delayed recovery in workers’ comp cases, including:
- Access to care issues
- Lack of follow-up
- Low care compliance
- Insufficient post-treatment support
Overall, there is a crucial need for in-home post-treatment care coordination because it is inherently fragmented. Patients interact with different providers, specialists, systems and departments that don’t always communicate effectively, which can result in disjointed care, frustration, and nonadherence to treatment plans.
Access to Care Issues
One of the most significant causes of delayed recovery in workers’ compensation cases is a lack of timely access to quality care, which can increase claim costs and extend time away from work.
Injured workers often require specialized care, which can be delayed by prior authorization requirements, scheduling challenges and referral processes. Moreover, care must be provided by a specific network of approved doctors. Oftentimes, this pool of doctors is small. Limited provider availability curtails choices, creating treatment delays and longer recovery periods.
Lack of Follow-Up and Compliance
Delayed workers’ comp recovery can be the direct result of nonadherence to treatment plans and incomplete patient monitoring. When an injured worker fails to follow post-treatment and ongoing aftercare procedures, like going to physical therapy or taking prescribed medications, they extend their recovery time and delay their return to work.
Incomplete patient monitoring, inadequate medical documentation, poor communication and insufficient oversight by medical providers and insurance companies can also delay recovery timelines, resulting in extended workers’ comp disputes.
Insufficient Patient Support Post-Discharge
While patients receive written or printed aftercare procedures following injury treatment, these typically do not include personalized care instructions, providing limited guidance for at-home care protocols or addressing unique home care needs.
These gaps in patient education for self-management can contribute to confusion, frustration, emotional distress and dissatisfaction, which can lead to nonadherence, recovery delays, and extended claims.
BrightStar Care delivers proactive, nurse-led care, in-home support to help employees avoid complications and recover more quickly through personalized aftercare, while reducing the risk of extended claims and increased costs.
The Economic Toll
Delayed workers’ comp recovery takes a measurable economic toll on everyone involved: employees, employers, insurers, healthcare systems and communities.
Employees struggling with delayed recovery may face lost wages, mounting medical debt and increasing household debt to cover living expenses, creating a cycle of financial instability.
Claim costs rise significantly with longer reporting delays, resulting in increased employer insurance premiums, legal fees, administrative burdens and wage replacement costs.
According to the National Safety Council’s (NSC) analysis of National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) data, the average cost for all workers’ comp claims between 2021 and 2022 was $44,179.
The Liberty Mutual Insurance Workplace Safety Index further underscores the financial impact, estimating that U.S. businesses spent more than $1 billion per week on workplace injuries in 2024, totaling over $58 billion for the year.
Delayed workers’ comp recovery also takes an economic toll on insurers and health systems, leading to higher medical costs, elevated claim payouts, strained cash flow and challenges meeting state-mandated fee schedules.
Investing in proactive, nurse-led care, in-home support can mitigate these costs by helping employees regain their health and improve RTW outcomes.
Associated Costs Per Delayed Claim
Employer costs of extended claims include:
- Lost productivity due to extended employee absence
- Extended wage replacement for temporary staffing and overtime
- Continued disability benefit payments
- Potential legal and administrative fees resulting from claims
Nurse-led, in-home support, like that provided by BrightStar Care, helps employees return to work faster by providing proactive, personalized care in a safe and comfortable environment.
Meta-analysis of nurse-led transitional care programs show “moderate to large positive effects on recovery outcomes, including faster rehabilitation and lower risk of complications.” These programs also contribute to “shorter claim durations and earlier return to work, compared with usual care
BrightStar Care’s Solution
No matter what type of at-home care your employee needs, our dedicated registered nursing and home care professionals provide specialized care for injured workers across all industries.
Our healthcare professionals are certified to provide the care your employees need, including:
- Tracheostomy care
- Ventilator care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Bathing, toileting and dressing assistance
- Wound care
- Blood draws and injections
- Speech therapy
- Social work
- Mobility support and transferring
- Ambulation (walking or moving around)
- Personal home safety evaluation
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Transitional care
We ensure your employees’ recovery is supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN) from the first day. Whether they require around-the-clock support or just a few hours of care each week, our coordinated, nurse-led in-home care supports faster recovery and return to work.
We are dedicated to delivering top-tier clinical and home-based care for workers’ compensation cases.
In-Home Nursing Accelerates RTW
- Skilled nurses provide personalized care tailored to each employee’s unique medical needs
- Recovery takes place in the comfort and safety of home, which reduces stress and complications
- Close monitoring and early intervention protocols help prevent setbacks, reducing hospital readmissions
Coordinated Nurse-Led Care Supports Faster Recovery Timelines
- Seamless integration with employer and TPA workflows, ensuring smooth communication and documentation
- Regular updates to employers, human resources teams and care managers keep all stakeholders up to date
- Care plans are specifically tailored to the employee’s role and workplace requirements and recovery goals
- Multi-disciplinary collaboration ensures every aspect of the employee’s health is considered and addressed
Proven Outcomes for Employers and TPAs (3rd party administrators)
When you partner with BrightStar Care for workers’ comp recovery support, you can feel confident knowing your employees will receive compassionate, skilled nursing care and your organization will benefit from faster recovery timelines, reduced downtime, and lower overall costs.
The bottom line is your employees regain independence, health, and well-being and your organization regains a productive, engaged and healthy workforce—faster.
Partner with BrightStar Care to Reduce Delays, Costs and Lost Productivity
Workplace injuries are costly for everyone involved. Beyond medical expenses, extended claims, lost productivity and delayed return to work can have a significant financial and operational impact on employers, insurers, and health systems.
Research supports that employees recovering in traditional hospital or facility-based care settings often experience longer recovery times compared with those receiving proactive and personalized in-home care.
More days away from work means higher overall costs for employers, insurers and health systems. It also leads to prolonged disruptions to your team, workflows and overall operations.
Nurse-led, in-home care solutions from BrightStar Care are designed to accelerate recovery and support a safe, timely return to work. Our approach includes personalized care plans, one-on-one attention from skilled nurses and consistent monitoring to optimize recovery. This helps ensure employees can heal faster and lowers their risk of complications, hospital readmissions, and extended workers’ comp claims.
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BrightStar Service |
Employer benefit |
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Faster recovery timelines |
Reduction in lost workdays |
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Personalized nurse-led care |
Lower overall claims costs |
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Ongoing monitoring and care optimization |
Minimized operational disruption |
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One-on-one attention for each employee |
Reduced risk of complications or readmissions |
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Compassionate, high-quality care |
Enhanced employee satisfaction and adherence to care plans |
Our goal is better, faster recovery for employees, fewer lost workdays, reduced claims costs and minimal disruption to operations. Partner with BrightStar Care to protect your workforce and your bottom line while providing employees the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve.
Our broad network spans 41 states and continues to grow. Comprised of skilled nurses with deep expertise, we have the resources to support you with simple to complex workers’ comp care needs. Contact us to learn how we can help you reduce costs while ensuring injured workers receive the care they need.