The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) published their August 2020 COVID-19 Report, which utilizes claim data up through July 31, 2020. The data in this report is organized by Claim Frequency, Claim Costs & Characteristics, Coverage Information, and Telemedicine.
According to the report, by the end of July, 11,872 COVID-19 claims were filed, and of those claims 5,144 were denied. COVID-19 claims accounted for 26.2% of all indemnity claims in the Florida workers’ comp system. A total of $13,120,059 was paid to COVID-19 claims, making up 5.3% of total paid benefits.
The report breaks down claim frequency and benefits paid across all 67 Florida counties, as well as by industry, gender, and age. Of note:
- Dade County had the most claims and benefits paid, with 4,092 claims, paying $4.96 million in benefits
- Protective services workers (including first responders) made up 36.6% of COVID-19 claims, totaling 4,345 claims, which accounted for 40.5% of COVID-19 benefits paid, for a total of $5.3 million
- Healthcare workers made up 28.9% of COVID-19 claims, totaling 3,432 claims, which accounted for 34.8% of COVID-19 benefits paid out, for a total of $4.56 million
- Service workers made up 24.4% of COVID-19 claims, totaling 2,897 claims, which accounted for 8.8% of COVID-19 benefits paid, for a total of $1.15 million
- More COVID-19 claims were filed for women than men
In regard to telemedicine, 27,867 telemedicine bills have been submitted since the beginning of the year, dwarfing the total 1,672 bills submitted for the entirety of 2019. Of note:
- Only 336 telemedicine bills were submitted in February, but a peak number of 10,968 were submitted in April, steadily reducing in the following months
- 13,346 telemedicine bills, or 48% of them, were submitted by medical doctors, with $1.4 million paid
- 7,170 telemedicine bills, or 26% of them, were submitted by physical therapists, with $838,000 paid
