Waltham, MA, April 30, 2026—With hospital closures increasing, a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines how closures in both urban and rural areas affect access to care, use of care, claim costs, and duration of disability for workers recovering from work‑related injuries.

“Workers injured on the job rely on timely access to nearby care, and hospital closures can affect that—especially in rural areas. This study addresses questions raised by stakeholders regarding injured workers’ travel time to medical services, and the implications for workers’ recovery and claim costs,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI.

The study looks at how hospital closures in urban and rural areas affect:

• Access to and use of emergency services, primary care, and specialty care

• Distance travelled to medical services

• Whether initial care occurs in a hospital
• Medical costs, indemnity costs, and duration of temporary disability

According to the study, examining hospital closures within the workers’ compensation system allows the analysis of outcomes not previously examined, including speed of recovery after a work‑related injury. Understanding patient‑level impacts of hospital closures is central to health policy decision‑making, particularly as care shifts across providers and settings.

The analysis covers more than 12 million non-fatal injury claims with injuries occurring between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2023, and outcomes measured 12 months after injury. This study covers 29 states, representing over 80 percent of workers’ compensation benefits paid in 2021.

The study, Impact of Hospital Closures on Access to Care and Claim Outcomes, authored by Drs. Bogdan Savych and Olesya Fomenko, is free for WCRI members and available for purchase by nonmembers.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not‑for‑profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Funding for WCRI’s research comes from its diverse membership, which includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state, federal, and international agencies.

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Louise Esola writes for Business Insurance:

Total workers compensation claim costs increased by an average of 6% per year from 2022 to 2025 in the median study state, driven by rising medical payments, indemnity benefits and claim administration expenses, according to research released Tuesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The findings, featured in 18 reports for all the study states, show costs had remained relatively flat through 2022 before climbing again over the past several years.

Read her full article here.  The newly-released WCRI research is CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2026 Edition.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including links to the individual state studies and details on how to get copies!

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Waltham, MA, April 28, 2026 – New research from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based on data from 18 study states, found that total workers’ compensation claim costs grew by an average of 6 percent per year from 2022 to 2025 in the median study state.

“The increase reflects sustained growth in the last few years across all major components of a claim, including medical payments, indemnity benefits, and benefit delivery expenses,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “Workers’ compensation costs were fairly flat through 2022, but in the last few years, costs began to rise again, driven by increasing wages, higher medical prices, longer disability duration, and rising costs to administer claims.”

Key findings from the studies include:

• Medical payments per claim increased, primarily by price growth for medical services rather than changes in utilization, with high‑cost claims a key driver of growth in some states.
• Indemnity benefits per claim continued to rise, as longer durations of temporary disability placed upward pressure on benefits; wages for injured workers continued to grow but at a slower pace in more recent years.
• Benefit delivery expenses per claim grew steadily, reflecting increases in medical cost containment expenses and litigation expenses.
• Cost growth was widespread across states, with most study states experiencing rising total costs per claim and increases in most cost components.

The findings are drawn from CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2026 Edition, a series of studies covering 18 states that monitor the changes in workers’ compensation claim costs and their components. The studies examine claims with more than seven days of lost time, evaluated at 12 months of experience through 2025. The study states are Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

All state studies included in this edition are available free to WCRI members and for a fee to nonmembers. Click here for more information or to download copies of the studies in this edition.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not‑for‑profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Funding for WCRI’s research comes from its diverse membership, which includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state, federal, and international agencies.

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Louise Esola: As provider shortages across health care persist, delays in treatment are becoming one of the most consistent pressure points in the workers compensation industry.  From prolonged disability durations to increased pharmaceutical use and a higher likelihood of litigation, experts say access barriers can reshape the trajectory of a claim in ways that are difficult and costly to unwind...

A 2020 study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that earlier initiation of physical therapy for low back pain was linked to lower medical costs, fewer opioid prescriptions and shorter disability durations.

“When care is delayed, it complicates recovery, increases costs and leads to more opioids and more interventions,” said Sebastian Negrusa, Washington-based vice president of research for WCRI.

Read the full article here.  The study that Esola cites is The Timing of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain: Does It Matter in Workers’ Compensation?  Also possibly of interest is our study on the Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments, since that's also a topic discussed in the article. Visit their pages on our website for more information, including on how you can get a copy!

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In today's episode of the Deconstructing Comp podcast, Yvonne and Rafael sit down with Heather Lore, Executive Director of the IAIABC, for a conversation that covers some important (and undertalked) topics in workers' comp right now.

These include:

Heat-Related Injuries: They're more common than the data shows. Heather says this is largely because they're underreported. She breaks down what's happening, what states like Oregon and California are doing about it, and what employers can do today. Here's the WCRI research study, and it's worth a read.

You can listen to the episode here.

In addition to the study that Lore mentions (Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-Related Injuries), you may be interested in our look at the Impact of California’s Heat Standard on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes.

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A Workers Compensation Research Institute study reveals significant variations and rising costs for air ambulance services across 36 states.
While usage is infrequent, average payments for these flights have escalated dramatically in several jurisdictions.

You can read the latest Workers' Comp Advisor here.  The new study that they're reviewing is Use and Cost of Air Ambulance Transport Services in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to get copies!

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Louise Esola: Virginia is the latest state to move toward formal workplace heat-illness prevention requirements, adding to a mosaic of state-level standards that employers must navigate amid the absence of a finalized federal rule. Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently signed legislation directing the state’s Safety and Health Codes Board to develop regulations that require employers to implement heat illness prevention protocols for indoor and outdoor workers, including access to water, rest breaks, training and emergency response procedures. The board has until May 1, 2028, to finalize the rules.

Research suggests such standards can reduce workplace injuries. A study by the Waltham, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute found that California’s heat standard — the first in the nation, enacted in 2005 — led to measurable declines in injuries on hot days across several industries.
“We found that heat standards reduced injury frequency,” said Sebastian Negrusa, Washington-based vice president of research at WCRI. The study showed declines of 15% to 17% in construction, 24% to 27% in agriculture and 19% to 25% in transportation.

Read the full article in Business Insurance here.  The WCRI study that she cites is Impact of California’s Heat Standard on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy!

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Risk & Insurance: The cost of air ambulance services in workers’ compensation has risen dramatically, with average payments per transport increasing more than 60% over the past decade, from roughly $15,000 to more than $25,000, according to a new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The findings highlight a growing cost pressure for employers and insurers, particularly in states with limited regulatory authority over air ambulance pricing. By 2024, air ambulance services accounted for nearly half of all ambulance transport payments in the workers’ compensation system, the WCRI said.

Read the full article here. The WCRI report they're reviewing is Use and Cost of Air Ambulance Transport Services in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport.  Visit its page on our website for more details on the report, as well as information on how you can download a copy!

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Medical provider networks now dominate the delivery of care in workers’ compensation. In most states, the majority of medical dollars flow
through them. Yet for all their ubiquity...

Read the full article here (requires subscription).

The WCRI report being discussed is Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy!

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HealtheSystems' Rx Informer Magazine reports on Long COVID.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world in such an unprecedented manner that the ripple effects continue to be felt – including the prevalence of Long COVID, the chronic condition that can linger for weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 infection.

In workers’ comp, data has shown that while Long COVID appears in few claims, it significantly impacts medical care and drives up costs. This is likely because Long COVID frequently stems from more intense cases of acute COVID-19 infection, and these claims last longer and require ongoing care as chronic symptoms resurface.

Read the full report here.  It cites WCRI's Long COVID in the workers compensation system in 2020 and 2021, as well as our 2024 webinar on Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments Across States.  Check out the links for more details, including information on how to get a copy of our Long COVID study!

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IWP (Injured Workers' Pharmacy)'s weekly State of the States reports:

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced an upcoming webinar and released a new report:

• WCRI will host a webinar on April 30 to discuss the 2026 edition of its CompScope Benchmarks. The webinar will examine how workers’ compensation costs are evolving across 18 study states, including the extent of cost growth and whether most states are experiencing increases in total costs per claim and across key cost components. The session will last 30 minutes, from 2:00–2:30 p.m. ET, and registration is now open.
• WCRI released Use and Cost of Air Ambulance Transport Services in Workers’ Compensation FlashReport, examining how often air ambulance services are used and how much they cost across 32 states. The study finds that air ambulance transport is used infrequently in workers’ compensation claims but plays a critical role in severe and life‑threatening injuries, particularly in rural areas.

They helpfully provide links, which you can use to find out more details.  

Read the full State of the States report here.

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Louise Esola: The use of air ambulance services in workers compensation claims remains relatively rare but continues to drive significant costs, with payments rising sharply over the past decade, according to a report released Monday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Air ambulances play a critical role in transporting severely injured workers, particularly in emergencies where rapid access to trauma care is essential. However, policymakers and payers are increasingly scrutinizing their cost, billing practices and regulatory oversight.

You can read the full article here.  The new study that she's reviewing is Use and Cost of Air Ambulance Transport Services in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to get copies!

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Waltham, MA, April 14, 2026—Air ambulances can be lifesaving for workers with severe job‑related injuries, and their costs vary widely across states. A new FlashReport from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines air ambulance use and payments in workers’ compensation claims across 32 states.

“Air ambulances play a critical role in workers’ compensation by providing rapid emergency transport for workers with severe or life‑threatening injuries,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “This study helps clarify key questions about costs and access to services, particularly in remote areas.”

The study finds wide variation in average payments for air ambulance services across states. It also highlights ongoing legal uncertainty over who has authority to regulate air ambulance pricing, as providers and states differ on whether federal law preempts state workers’ compensation fee schedules. This uncertainty has contributed to wide variation in air ambulance payments across states.

The study addresses:

• How frequently air ambulance services are used in workers’ compensation claims and how use differs between rural and non‑rural areas.
• Differences in air ambulance use and payment levels across states.
• Changes in payments for air ambulance services over time and how trends in payment growth vary by state.

The analysis for Use and Cost of Air Ambulance Transport Services in Workers’ Compensation—A WCRI FlashReport is based on workers’ compensation claims from 32 states covering injuries through 2024. The states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The study is free for WCRI members and available for purchase by nonmembers.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not‑for‑profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Funding for WCRI’s research comes from its diverse membership, which includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state, federal, and international agencies.

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Waltham, MA, April 13, 2026—The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 30‑minute webinar on April 30 at 2 p.m. ET to present key findings from the upcoming release of WCRI’s CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2026 Edition.

“These studies help workers’ compensation policymakers and other system stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in total costs per claim and key components across 18 states,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI.

The webinar will address questions about how these costs are evolving across states, including:

• How widespread is cost growth across states, and are most states seeing increases in total costs per claim and across most cost components?
• What factors are contributing to recent changes in medical payments, indemnity benefits and benefit delivery expenses per claim in recent years?

The findings shared are drawn from CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2026 Edition, a series of studies covering 18 states that monitor the changes in workers’ compensation claim costs and their components. The studies examine claims with more than seven days of lost time, evaluated at 12 months of experience through 2025.

The study states are Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Individual state reports are available for every study state except Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia.

The webinar is free, but space is limited to 500 participants. Everyone who registers will receive the slides and a recording afterward. Click here to register.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not‑for‑profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Its diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state agencies across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

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Louise Esola: Medical provider networks are increasingly shaping how care is delivered, how disputes are avoided and how quickly injured employees recover in addition to reducing costs in workers compensation systems, according to industry experts.

A study released this month by the Waltham, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute found that claims treated within networks had 26% lower total costs, faster access to care and shorter disability durations than out-of-network claims.

The findings reinforce long-held views that networks can control medical spending but also point to deeper drivers behind those results.

Read the full article here; it was also featured in Waltham Patch. The WCRI report she discusses is Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to download a copy!

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Michael Choo, MD: Innovations in prosthetic care are accelerating quickly—redefining both functional recovery and long-term cost exposure for catastrophic workplace claims management. Traditionally seen as durable medical equipment, prosthetics now sit at the intersection of advanced technology, specialized clinical care, and strategic claim planning...

Yet the larger shift is not just technological. The most successful outcomes occur when prosthetic decisions are integrated into a comprehensive care plan that aligns rehabilitation goals, vocational considerations, and long-term durability. Workers’ compensation industry data consistently shows that catastrophic claims benefit from early clinical engagement and coordinated decision-making, which can help reduce unnecessary utilization and long-term claim volatility.

Read his full article here.  When discussing the importance of early clinical engagement and coordinated decision-making, Choo cites CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 2025 Edition.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to get copies of these studies!

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Medical provider networks in workers’ compensation deliver broad benefits across nearly every measure of claim performance, from medical payments and return-to-work timelines to litigation expenses, according to research by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.

The study, which examined more than seven days of lost-time claims from 34 states with experience through March 2024, estimated that networks lower medical payments by 27% — roughly $3,500 per claim at 12 months of maturity — while also shifting the mix of services toward more conservative care and away from surgeries and pain management injections.

Read the full article in Risk & Insurance here.  The WCRI report they're reviewing is Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to download a copy!

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Waltham, MA, April 6, 2026—The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released its 2026 Annual Report, highlighting independent research published in 2025 and how it informed policy discussions nationwide.

In her letter, WCRI President and CEO Ramona Tanabe emphasized the importance of objective, empirical research amid rapid changes in health policy, labor markets, and emerging technologies.

“Rapid shifts in 2025—from changes in workers’ health care coverage to the growing impact of artificial intelligence—created new uncertainty for workers, employers, and policymakers,” Tanabe wrote. “These changes highlight why independent, objective research matters.”

The studies WCRI published in 2025 included research documenting rising medical payments, fewer injuries following California’s heat protections, comparable or faster outcomes when advanced practitioners provided initial care, and higher claim frequency after recreational marijuana legalization.

WCRI research was cited in congressional testimony, federal policy discussions, academic journals, and major publications, and was used as a resource in legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder discussions at state and national levels.

Looking ahead, WCRI remains focused on issues central to the future of workers’ compensation and on research priorities highly important to stakeholders.

The Annual Report includes a list of published studies, examples of how the research was used, key research highlights, member interviews, and a full list of supporters who made WCRI’s research possible in 2025. Click here to view the report.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1983, the Institute does not take positions on the issues it studies. Instead, it provides information based on research and data collection that follows recognized scientific methods. Objectivity is ensured through rigorous, unbiased peer review. WCRI’s diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government entities, managed care organizations, health care providers, insurance regulators, labor organizations, and state administrative agencies in the United States, Canada, and Australia

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Michael B. Stack: At [the WCRI] conference, I attended a session presented by Bob Hartwig, Ph.D., Director of the Risk and Uncertainty Management Center and Clinical Associate Professor of Finance at the University of South Carolina. The presentation stepped back from day to day claims and focused on the bigger economic picture shaping workers’ compensation.

One of the most striking takeaways was how differently workers’ compensation has behaved compared to the rest of the property and casualty insurance industry. While other lines have been hit by catastrophic losses, litigation pressures, and inflation, workers’ comp has remained relatively stable.

Read his full review here.

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By Healthesystems

Degenerative conditions can be defined as illnesses that cause a progressive breakdown of cells, tissues, or organs over time, leading to a decline in function. These conditions can affect various parts of the body, but when discussed in the context of workers’ comp, “degenerative conditions” often refers to such conditions of the musculoskeletal variety.

Delineating between a work-related injury and a degenerative comorbid condition can be difficult, but data from the Workers Compensation Research Institute make it clear that the presence of degenerative conditions within claims can significantly impact claims outcomes and costs.

Read the full article here.  The WCRI study cited is Degenerative and Comorbid Conditions in Workers’ Compensation.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to get a copy!

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Frank Raneri, Paradigm Specialty Networks: 

What’s driving up medical costs in workers’ comp?
From ever-rising facility fees to the impact of tariffs on surgical implants, here are a few of the key cost drivers that networks must analyze and address:

• Rising facility costs: With up to 40 cents of every workers’ comp medical dollar spent on facility-related expenses, high hospital fees directly shape the cost of work-related claims. One particularly alarming trend shows some hospitals charging workers’ comp payers significantly higher rates for outpatient surgeries when compared to other insurers. The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) estimates this can result in an additional $7,500 to $22,000 per procedure.

• Growing provider consolidation: Consolidation has accelerated in recent years, with more than 470 hospital mergers between 2016 and 2024. Limited competition enables large health systems to exert significant influence over pricing, with aggressive network negotiations often resulting in only modest discounts.

• Inconsistent fee schedules: WCRI estimates that states without cost controls or fee schedules see payments 61% to 134% higher than those in regulated states, and 69% to 217% higher when payments are limited to a percentage of hospital charges. And unlike group health insurance, where patients may opt for lower-cost facilities to limit out-of-pocket expenses, injured workers typically incur no direct costs and have limited influence over surgical site selection.
• Cost drivers in surgical implants: From 2021 to 2024, costs for surgical implantable devices in the U.S. rose sharply...

Read the sponsored article in WorkCompWire here. 

The WCRI study that he cites is the Hospital Outpatient Payment Index: Interstate Variations and Policy Analysis, 11th Edition.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to get a copy!

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Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a new study from WCRI on the impact of networks on claim outcomes that found that injured workers treated in networks receive care sooner, incur lower costs, and spend less time on temporary disability.

WCRI noted that use of medical provider networks in workers’ comp has grown steadily over the past twenty years, with much of medical care now going through networks. Key areas of exploration for the study included what impact networks had on medical payments, access to care, and utilization of medical services; how networks affect other claim outcomes, such as duration of disability, indemnity benefit payments, and overall claim costs; differences in network effects in rural areas versus urban areas; and how workers’ comp policy choices influence the effectiveness of networks.

Find the WorkCompWire article here.

The new WCRI study is Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy!

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Medical provider networks in workers compensation are associated with significantly lower claim costs, faster access to care and shorter disability durations, according to a report released Tuesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The study found that claims treated within networks had 26% lower total costs — about $11,800 less per claim — compared with out-of-network claims at 36 months of maturity. Medical payments alone were 27% lower, or roughly $3,500 per claim, at 12 months.

Read the full article from Business Insurance here.

The new WCRI study is Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy!

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At the recent WCRI conference, I attended a session titled “Hospital Closures and Impact on Outcomes,” presented by Bogdan Savych, senior policy analyst at WCRI. The discussion focused on how hospital closures are affecting workers’ compensation and highlighted a reality that is easy to oversimplify but much harder to fully understand in practice.

Hospital closures are often framed as a crisis of access. But as Savych emphasized, the story is far more nuanced. Care is not simply disappearing. It is shifting. And that shift is fundamentally changing how injured workers receive treatment, how far they must travel, and how employers need to think about care delivery.

Read the full article here.

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Joe Paduda: The latest analysis echoes previous studies that found consolidation of hospitals/health systems leads to higher prices and questionable outcome results - for all payer types, including work comp.

Quick takes:

• 4 out of 5 smaller metro areas had only one healthcare system.
• consolidation among providers (in this case, physician offices joining systems) has increased and driven higher Medicare spending and commercial prices.

Read the full article here.  It includes some data and graphics from WCRI's Impact of Medical Provider Consolidation on Workers’ Compensation Payments.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how you can get a copy!

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Waltham, MA, March 31, 2026— A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that injured workers treated in networks receive care sooner, incur lower costs, and spend less time on temporary disability.

“The use of medical provider networks in workers’ compensation has grown steadily over the past twenty years, with much medical care going through networks nowadays,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “This study shows how networks affect claim outcomes and offers helpful guidance for policymakers and others system stakeholders.”

The study, Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes, examines:

• What is the impact of networks on medical payments, access to care, and utilization of medical services?
• How do networks affect other claim outcomes, such as duration of disability, indemnity benefit payments, and overall claim costs?
• Are there differences in network effects in rural areas versus urban areas?
• How do workers’ compensation policy choices influence the effectiveness of networks?

This study addresses these questions by matching in‑network and out‑of‑network claims with more than seven days of lost time to meaningfully compare them on a variety of outcome measures.

The 34 states included in the study are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The study by Drs. Olesya Fomenko and Rebecca Yang is free for WCRI members and available for purchase by nonmembers. Learn more or download a copy at www.wcrinet.org.

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Michael B. Stack: At the recent WCRI conference, I attended a session focused on one of the most important questions in workers’ compensation right now: why claim costs are rising again after years of relative stability. The presentation, led by WCRI researchers Evelina Radeva and Rebecca Yang, walked through the latest CompScope data. What stood out immediately was not just that costs are increasing, but how broadly the increase is showing up across the system.

Read the full article here.  The results of WCRI's research will be published next month in CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2025 Edition--watch this space!

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Irina Simpson, WCRI Board Member and Executive VP of Workers' Compensation at Gallagher Bassett, has a new sponsored article in Business Insurance:

When mental health is overlooked, claims escalate

Historically, the workers’ compensation industry focused primarily on physical injuries. Today, claims professionals are expected to evaluate the injured worker as a whole person, including behavioral health factors that influence recovery. Anxiety, depression and trauma frequently accompany workplace injuries, particularly when recovery is delayed or access to care is limited.

Mental health conditions are now cited as the number one driver of workers’ compensation claim complexity. A 2025 study of more than 930,000 claims revealed that comorbid conditions, including mental health issues, raise medical and indemnity costs and lengthen temporary disability, versus claims without complicating factors.

You can read the full article here.  The WCRI study she cites is Degenerative and Comorbid Conditions in Workers’ Compensation.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how you can get a copy!

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Michael B. Stack: At the recent WCRI conference, I listened to a panel that pulled together a wide range of perspectives across the workers’ compensation
system. What made this discussion especially valuable was not just the topics, but the mix of voices... Each came at the system from a different angle: regulatory, labor, insurance, and employer operations. And while the topics ranged from AI to mental health to climate risk, the underlying theme was consistent.

Workers’ compensation is becoming more complex, not less. And the old ways of managing that complexity are starting to break down.

Read the full article here. 

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Patrick Robinson, of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), gave a radio interview on Talk 107.3 FM - Baton Rouge on the subject of workers’ compensation legislation currently being debated at the state house. He references our research, without naming us, on how temporary disability stretches to more than 30 weeks in Louisiana while claims in neighboring states last about 13 to 15 weeks. He said the gap drives up costs for employers and insurers. It also delays recovery and return-to-work timelines for employees.

You can listen here.

The statistics to which Robinson refers come from CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 2025 Edition.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy.  And watch this space for the publication of CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 2026 Edition in a few weeks!

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The Standard's Deborah Dukeshire reports on the WCRI Conference: 

A new study by the Workers' Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that the use of medical provider networks in workers compensation led to lower medical payments and faster access to care.  Claims treated within networks had a shorter duration of temporary disability, were less likely to have litigation expenses and resulted in lower overall costs per claim.

Read the full article here. 

The WCRI study in question is "Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes." Dr. Rebecca Yang presented on its findings at the WCRI conference; it will be published on March 31. 

The following article in The Standard also cites WCRI research: in that case, CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2025 Edition.

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James Benham:  Last year, I watched a carrier deliver a demo of an AI tool that could summarize a complex medical record in under ninety seconds. The room was impressed. Six months later, I asked how adoption was going. The project lead paused, then said something I’ve heard too many times: “The adjusters just aren’t using it.” The technology worked fine. The business case was solid. But nobody had planned for the people who were supposed to change how they work every day.

I’ve been building technology for the insurance industry since I started JBK out of my dorm room at Texas A&M in 2001, and that story is not new to me. I saw the same pattern in construction tech. I saw it in my own company. The tool delivers on its promise in a controlled environment, and then it meets the reality of how people actually operate...

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute published a study in June 2025 looking at AI’s promises and challenges in our industry, and one of the clearest themes was that AI’s value depends on how transparent it is, how well it’s governed, and whether it genuinely supports the mission of helping injured workers recover. The report also makes an important point that I think gets lost in a lot of the hype: AI should not replace the first human contact in a claim.

Read the full article on WorkersCompensation.com here.  The WCRI study he cites is Artificial Intelligence in Workers’ Compensation: An Overview of Promises and Challenges.  View its page on our website for more information, including on how to get a copy!

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Michael B. Stack: 

At this conference, one of the most timely discussions I attended focused on a challenge that continues to affect nearly every corner of workers’ compensation: access to care.

This panel took a different angle than the Employer Panel earlier in the conference. While the employer discussion focused more on operational challenges inside organizations, this session explored the broader system level barriers that make it difficult for injured workers to actually get treatment.

Read his full analysis here.

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WorkCompWire: Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features WCRI’s announcement of a new, free webinar that will explore findings from its recent study on benefit delivery expenses in the New York workers’ compensation system.

The report updates and builds on previous work completed by WCRI examining trends shaping the cost of delivering medical care and income benefits to injured workers across the state, and also delves into further detail on medical cost containment expenses and litigation expenses, examining key components within each of those categories.

You can read their full article here.

The WCRI webinar is titled Benefit Delivery Expenses in the New York Workers’ Compensation System.  Click the link to register!

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Healthesystems: The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) published a report that collects the various regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states, including workers with injuries.

The report provides information on some of the most prominent prescription drug issues stakeholders are concerned about in 2026, such as:

• Workers’ comp drug formularies
• Rules for limiting and monitoring opioid prescriptions
• Price regulations for pharmacy- and physician-dispensed drugs
• Expanded role for pharmacists in patient care
• Prescription drug monitoring programs
• Pharmacy benefit manager regulations
• Medical marijuana regulations

Read their full announcement here.  Then view the page for this new publication, Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2026, where you can find more details, including information on how to get a copy!

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Michael B. Stack: 

At the recent WCRI conference, I listened to the afternoon employer panel, which covered a lot of ground. The discussion repeatedly returned to one reality that feels more urgent than ever in workers’ comp: thinking about claims in a vacuum is not enough.

Read his full analysis here.

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Dennis Sponer writes for SRX Advisors:

Pennsylvania – What is AWP? 

AWP pricing in PA is costing the market over $1 million weekly, giving carriers an opportunity to respond. The PA Commonwealth Court, in Federated Insurance v. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, ruled that Red Book AWP is not a reliable basis for setting  workers' compensation medication prices. Stakeholders told the Bureau of Labor and Industry to develop a new standard, yet over two years have passed without action. Meanwhile, WCRI studies reveal WC prescription costs are ten times higher than NADAC, a new benchmark that many payers are moving to. 

For example, a popular antiemetic was billed at $2,596 per claim, whereas the retail price is only $32. Many carriers and TPAs haven't yet realized that Federated's ruling provides a legal basis to challenge AWP-based bills today. You can begin adopting a Federated-based system to review and contest claims immediately, regardless of the Bureau’s future decisions.

Read the full monthly update here.  The WCRI work that they cite is Interstate Variation and Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments, 5th Edition.  For more on WCRI's work on prescription drug costs, see Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2026 and CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 2025.

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Waltham, MA, March 17, 2026—The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 30‑minute webinar on April 9 at 2 p.m. ET to present key findings from its recent report, Benefit Delivery Expenses in the New York Workers’ Compensation System.

“This report updates and builds on our previous work, examining recent trends shaping the cost of delivering medical care and income benefits to injured workers across the state,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “We also drill down further on medical cost containment expenses and litigation expenses, examining key components within each of those categories.”

The study answers several important questions about how these costs are evolving, including:

• How have overall benefit delivery expenses changed over time in New York, including medical cost containment and litigation costs?
• Which components are driving changes within these categories?
• What policy changes may have influenced these trends?

The webinar is free, but space is limited to 500 participants. Everyone who registers will receive the slides and a recording afterward. Click here to register.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not‑for‑profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Its diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state agencies across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Healthesystems recently attended the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) Issues & Research Conference in Boston to capture key insights, many of which came from an employer panel discussed several operational challenges facing workers’ compensation programs, including access to care, early intervention practices, and claims culture and communication.

From an access to care standpoint, employers pointed to provider shortages, long wait times, and specialty backlogs across both urban and rural markets, noting that access issues often hinge on provider participation in workers’ compensation networks under current reimbursement structures.

Panelists also emphasized operational strategies such as prompt injury reporting, early engagement by adjusters and case managers, and consistent communication throughout the claim. Employers noted these practices support smoother claim progression and that breakdowns in communication frequently coincide with increased attorney involvement.

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Joe Paduda: Dr Bogdan Savych’s presentation at WCRI is the first assessment of the effects of hospital closures on work comp claims - kudos to WCRI and Dr Savych for focusing on this critical issue...

Read his full article on Dr. Savych's presentation at the WCRI Conference here.

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Healthesystems: The Pennsylvania and Delaware Compensation Rating Bureaus (PCRB & DCRB) will hold a joint 2026 Workers’ Compensation Symposium on April 23rd in Center City Philadelphia, offering workers’ comp professionals authoritative data, timely market intelligence, and decision-ready insights to inform pricing, underwriting, and risk strategy.

As part of the educational sessions, Healthesystems’ VP of Industry and State Affairs, Sandy Shtab, will join the panel presentation Inside Medical Experience: Signals, Trends, and System Impact.

This session examines how medical experience is shaping loss costs and market stability.

PCRB/DCRB data insights will be presented on severity, reporting integrity, and cost drivers, followed by the expert panel discussion.

Shtab will be joined by Ramona Tanabe, President & CEO, Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), and Dawn Belfus, Vice President Data Services, PCRB and DCRB.

The presentation will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.

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Justyn Needel: 

Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently hosted its Annual Conference, held March 3–4, 2026, at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. At the event, speakers highlighted one of the industry’s most urgent challenges:  increasing difficulty accessing medical care for injured workers. They reported that provider shortages, specialty backlogs, and administrative obstacles are delaying treatment, complicating claims management, and impacting return‑to‑work timelines.

You can read the full State of the States report here. 

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Bob Wilson: When a hospital closes, the intuitive assumption is that everything gets worse — longer drives, delayed treatment, higher medical costs, extended disability. New research from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute suggests the reality is more nuanced than that, and the findings carry important implications for employers, carriers, and injured workers in communities losing access to hospital-based care...

You can read his full analysis of this key panel from the WCRI Conference here.

You can find photos from the conference on our Facebook page!

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Louise Esola: Access to medical care for injured workers has become one of the top concerns in workers compensation, with employers, insurers and regulators saying provider shortages, specialty backlogs and administrative barriers are complicating claims management.

Across several sessions at the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s Issues & Research Conference last week, speakers described a health care environment where injured workers can face delays scheduling specialty visits or surgeries, even in areas with large numbers of physicians.

Read the full article here!

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Hello. My name is Michael Stack. And if you don’t know me yet, I’m the CEO of AMAXX.

Last week, I attended the WCRI conference in Boston, and for me, there was very one clear and obvious takeaway... As much as the challenges with hospital closures, changes in using telemedicine, using triage, using physician triage, having rural areas change, having hospitals in cities and bigger areas close…all of that, to me, was extra stuff…in terms of getting down to the fundamentals that have not changed and will not change.

Read (or watch!) his full analysis here to find out more.

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Q&A Session Following the Opening Keynote at the 2026 WCRI Issues and Research Conference

Following his opening keynote at the 2026 Workers’ Compensation Research Institute Issues and Research Conference, Harvard health economist Dr. Benjamin Sommers sat down with WCRI CEO Ramona Tanabe for an extended Q&A session that drew pointed questions from the audience. If his keynote laid out the landscape of what’s changing in American health coverage, the discussion that followed explored the practical consequences — for states, for hospitals, for workers’ comp carriers, and for the patients caught in between.

Read Bob Wilson's full review here.  (And see here for his analysis of the keynote address itself.)

You can find photos from the conference on our Facebook page!

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Frank Ferreri reports on Day 2 of WCRI's Conference last week:

With wildfires, hurricanes, inflation, and uncertainty marking the past 10 years, property and casualty insurance has experienced a "decade of woe." But the bright spot amid the turmoil has been workers' compensation, according to Bob Hartwig of University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business during WCRI's annual conference.

"Workers' comp is materially smaller than it used to be, but it's mighty." Hartwig said during WCRI's day 2 keynote session. "Workers' comp has served as a calm and stable refuge."

You can read his full report here.

Also check out his report on the Access to Care Panel at the conference:

It's well-know that the quicker an injured worker gets medical care, the quicker she'll be back on the job. However, in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas, which have faced recent hospital closures, getting to care might mean a long drive or getting creative about providers.

At WCRI's annual conference, Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer of Liberty Mutual, Jessica Moyers of the Hershey Company, and Jeff Nelson of the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation, addressed possible solutions to getting injured workers in front of providers quicker, including by having the providers come to the workers.

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Stephanie Riegel reports on the business lobby's top priorities in the new session of the Louisiana Legislature:

As in the past, business lobbyists will be pushing bills that would
lower the duration and cost of workers' compensation claims, which are
among the costliest in the U.S. even though the state has some of the
lowest incident rates of workplace injuries in the nation. That's
according to statistics from the national Workers Compensation Research
Institute, a nonprofit research organization.

Read the full article here (requires subscription).  The WCRI study she cites is CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 2025 Edition.  Visit its page on our website for more details including on how to get a copy!

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Joe Paduda reports on the Employers' Panel at WCRI's annual conference:

My effort to type as fast as the smart folks at WCRI’s employer panel talked is below - the panel featured Aramark, Disney, Marriott and Publix, discussing what worked and what didn't in Workers' Compensation management and company health culture as a whole.  

Read his report here.

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Thank you to our speakers and attendees for helping make the 2026 WCRI Issues & Research Conference a great success. Record attendance made this year’s discussions even richer, and we are grateful to everyone who joined us.

Our two days of timely research, candid discussion, and practical information provided engaging conversation and time to connect with old friends and new contacts.

Presentation slides remain available through the conference app. Please complete the conference survey. For each response, WCRI will donate $3 to Kids’ Chance.

If you were unable to attend, below are articles and blog posts covering many of the conference sessions. You can also view photos from the conference here.

Please save the date for next year’s conference: March 11–12, 2027, at The Westin Boston Seaport District.

Bob Wilson, Bob’s Cluttered Desk

• WCRI – Health Coverage in Flux: Harvard Economist Warns Workers’ Comp Industry to Brace for Fallout from Federal Policy Shifts

• Work Requirements, Claim Shifting, and the GLP-1 Reckoning: Sommers Fields Questions at WCRI

• WCRI – When Hospitals Close, Workers Drive Farther — But the Cost Story Isn’t What You’d Expect

Louise Esola, Business Insurance

• WCRI research shows uptick in comp costs as workers lose Medicaid
• Access to care continues to plague comp industry: panel

Joe Paduda, Managed Care Matters

• What happens when workers lose health insurance?
• How Medicaid and ACA cuts will affect work comp
• Lessons from great work comp programs 
• What Happens to Work Comp Claims When Hospitals Close?

Frank Ferrari, WorkersCompensation.com

• Do Work Requirements for Medicaid Work? WCRI Keynote Questions Conventional Wisdom 
• Access to Care Challenges? WCRI Panel Shares Tips
• What Should Employers do to Help Workers Beat Challenges? WCRI Panel Weighs In
• What’s the Current State of Workers’ Comp? Small, but Mighty: Hartwig

Ben Roberts, Comp Watch

• Is Work Comp's Great Run Ending? 
• Provider Access: WCRI Conference Observations

Michael Stack, Workers’ Comp Roundup

• WCRI Notes and Takeaways: Access to Care Issues and Potential Solutions

• WCRI Notes and Takeaways: Top Employers Are Rethinking Workers’ Comp

• One Key Takeaway and Application Point from WCRI 2026

• WCRI Notes and Takeaways: AI, Risk, and the Expanding Complexity of Workers’ Comp

• WCRI Notes and Takeaways: Why Workers’ Comp Is Profitable but Not Growing

If you have any questions or feedback on the conference that you would like to share, you can use the form at the bottom of this page.

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WorkComp Writer reviews WCRI's new work on benefit delivery expenses in New York.  Read the full article here (requires subscription).

The WCRI study in question is Benefit Delivery Expenses in the New York Workers’ Compensation System.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to get a copy!

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WorkersCompensation.com has provided great coverage of WCRI's conference earlier this week.  Here's their reporting on some of the March 2 sessions.

Do Work Requirements for Medicaid Work? WCRI Keynote Questions Conventional Wisdom.  Frank Ferreri summarizes one key point of the Day 1 Keynote Address.  "One might assume that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s directive for Medicaid recipients to work would have an impact on workers’ compensation; the only problem is, according to Harvard School of Public Health’s Benjamin Sommers, the requirement probably won’t get people on the job, it will just lead to loss of healthcare for people who actually are working."

Hospital Closures and Impact on Outcomes – 2nd Session.  James L. Moore provides a quick description of Bogdan Savych's presentation.

What Should Employers do to Help Workers Beat Challenges? WCRI Panel Weighs In.  The afternoon Employers' Panel "broke down what employers can do to make a workers’ journey from injury to return to work as easy as possible, starting with getting a worker to see a provider as soon as possible after an injury."  As the author noted, they also discussed a range of other issues, including telemedicine, the importance of company culture, and the challenges of extreme heat and an aging workforce.

In addition to the WorkersCompensation.com coverage, you can find photos from the conference on our Facebook page!

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Frank Ferreri: When it comes to challenges workers face as they attempt to make their way back to work after an injury, there are many points along the way where an employer’s actions can make or break a successful return to work outcome.

At WCRI’s Annual Conference, Lisa Daughtry Lisa Daughtry of The Walt Disney Company, Sharon DelGuercio of Publix Super Markets, Nicole Patterson MBA, RN of Aramark, Justin Romine of Marriott International, and Joan Vincenz of United Airlines, broke down what employers can do to make a workers’ journey from injury to return to work as best as possible, starting with getting a worker to see a provider as soon as possible after an injury.

Read his full report here.

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James L. Moore, founder of CutCompCosts.com, attended our conference on March 3-4. He writes "Thanks to WCRI and Andrew (WCRI Communications Director) for inviting me back to its 2026 WCRI Annual Conference."  He's written a full description of each day's sessions: See 

2026 WCRI Annual Conference – Day 1 and

WCRI 2026 Annual Conference – Day 2.

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Business Insurance:  Loss of Medicaid coverage was associated with a 2% to 3% increase in medical payments per workers compensation claim, with lower-wage and male workers and workers in construction, manufacturing and leisure most affected, according to preliminary research released Tuesday.

Sebastian Negrusa, the Washington-based vice president of research for Workers Compensation Research Institute, examined new federal policy changes, including Medicaid work requirements in the Trump Administration’s 2023 budget bill, and how those changes could affect the industry.

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Read the full article here.

Dr. Negrusa presented the results at the 2026 WCRI Conference.  The new study of Loss of Health Care Coverage is forthcoming from WCRI.

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Joe Paduda: WCRI’s Sebastian Negrusa PhD’s presentation kicked off yesterday’s afternoon with an excellent summary of what has happened to workers who lost their health insurance - and insights into what will happen as the Trump Administration continues to make health insurance less accessible and more expensive (my words, not his).

A substantial number of workers lost Medicaid after March 2023 due to the “unwinding” of COVID-era Medicaid regulations. This gives us insights into what might happen when HR1 - Republicans’ OBBBA budget bill that was signed into law last year - is fully implemented.

Alert - there’s some REALLY USEFUL underwriting intel here.

Read his full review here.

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Business Insurance: A long-running pressure point in workers compensation, access to care is becoming more difficult as provider shortages, hospital closures and broader health system disruptions ripple into occupational medicine, panelists said Tuesday at the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s Issues & Research Conference.

Delayed care can slow recovery and return-to-work timelines and increase claim costs, making care coordination “huge in workers comp,” moderator Randall Lea, Waltham, Massachusetts-based senior research fellow at WCRI, told attendees as he framed the discussion around practical tactics employers, payers and regulators are using to keep injured workers moving through the system.

Read the full report here.

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Joe Paduda on Dr. Benjamin Sommers' keynote address at the WCRI Conference:

First, reality is people who have health insurance are healthier than those who don’t. Quantitative research indicates having health insurance improves health - and people with health insurance improves self-reported health status.

Today we are seeing very large health insurance premium increases and significant reductions in the number of people insured - to date, at least a million have lost coverage…estimates are 3 – 4 million will lose coverage this year.

Read his full coverage here.

You can also find photos from the conference on our Facebook page!

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Bob Wilson, former CEO of WorkersCompensation.com, reviews the keynote address from the first day of WCRI's recent conference:

The workers’ compensation industry may soon feel the reverberations of sweeping changes to America’s health insurance landscape, according to Dr. Benjamin Sommers, who delivered the opening keynote address at the 2026 Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Issues and Research Conference here in Boston today.

Dr. Sommers, the Huntley Quelch Professor of Health Care Economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a practicing primary care physician, drew on his extensive research portfolio and experience as a former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to outline what he described as a partial unraveling of the coverage gains achieved under the Affordable Care Act — and what that could mean for employers, injured workers, and the workers’ compensation system.

Read his full review here. 

(In addition to this coverage, you can find photos from the conference on our Facebook page!  Videos from the conference will be available in the near future: Stay tuned.)

And for another review of Dr. Sommers' address to the conference, see Joe Paduda: How Medicaid and ACA cuts will affect work comp: Key takeaways from Dr Sommers' keynote.

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Insurance Journal: For more than a decade, insurance companies and physician groups have battled it out over the true meaning of Florida statutes: Are doctors considered pharmacists, allowed to dispense medications to injured workers, often at a higher price?

A Florida appeals court this week may have finally answered that question, giving a multimillion-dollar win to employers and carriers that have spent years trying to undo state workers’ compensation regulations that have allowed physician dispensing...

Ending the dispensing practice will now save workers’ comp insurers as much as $43 million over the next five years, the Florida Insurance Council and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association said in an amicus curiae brief filed with the appeals court.

The groups pointed to studies by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute that suggest that many drugs are more expensive when doctors dispense and bill for them: The pain reliever Vicodin is, on average, $1.41 per pill if dispensed at a doctor’s office versus 52 cents at a pharmacy. Mobic painkiller is as much $5.86 per pill, compared to $3.19, the brief notes.

You can read (or listen to!) the full article here.

The amicus curiae brief (2023) cited Interstate Variation and Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments: 2018Q1 to 2021Q1 (2022); The Prevalence and Costs of Physician-Dispensed Drugs (2013); and "Regulating Physician Dispensing," a NCCI compilation of WCRI evidence from sources such as The Impact Of Physician Dispensing On Opioid Use (2014). You can visit the pages of each of these studies for more information on the topic, as well as information on how to get copies.

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^{Nina Luckman writes for Risk & Insurance:}

Extreme heat is on the rise in the United States, challenging the ability of many industries and employers to keep workers safe, especially in high risk industries with considerable amounts of outdoor work, such as construction. While we can expect unabated climate change to continue to pose a threat, we do have a playbook to mitigate these risks. Devoting the resources to create a plan, and more importantly, implementing the plan, can quite literally save lives on the jobsite...

Another Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study using claims data and weather data from 2016 to 2021 across 24 states found that the probability of work-related accidents increases by five to six percent when the maximum daily temperature rises above 90°F, relative to a day with temperatures in the 65–70°F range. Even more concerning is correlative findings in the study indicating a stronger effect on traumatic injuries, illustrating the potentially compounding effect of heat stress which leads to a catastrophic fall.

Read the full article here.  The WCRI study he cites is Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-Related Injuries.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to get a copy for your own reference!

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Insurance Journal: College workers stricken with cancer should seek remedy through the workers’ compensation system, and injured students can bring negligence lawsuits, not claims that their constitutional rights have been violated, attorneys for North Carolina State University said in asking a court to dismiss a high-profile lawsuit brought over hazardous chemicals in a campus building.

One man and 10 women who developed breast cancer while studying or working at NCSU’s Poe Hall filed suit in January, arguing that the university had sundered protections provided by the state constitution...

Workers’ comp. claims may not allow much relief for the workers. As of January 2025, North Carolina workers’ compensation law provided no presumption that certain diseases are caused by workplace exposure, according to the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute. Several other states have established presumptions for classes of workers, such as firefighters and other first responders who develop some types of cancers, heart disease or psychological trauma.

You can read (or listen to!) the full article here.  The WCRI research in question is Workers’ Compensation Laws as of January 1, 2025.  View the study's page on our website for more information, including details on how you can get a copy and keep up-to-date on this important topic!

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Waltham, MA, February 25, 2026―The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) today released a comprehensive new report that brings together, in one place, the wide range of state regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“States take very different approaches to regulating prescription drugs, especially controlled substances, and these efforts often involve multiple agencies,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI’s president and CEO. “This report gives policymakers and system stakeholders a clear overview of state strategies and directs them to the relevant regulations for more detail.”

The report, Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2026, highlights key prescription drug issues shaping state policy discussions, including:

• Medical marijuana regulations
• Rules for limiting and monitoring opioid prescriptions
• Expanded roles for pharmacists in patient care
• Pharmacy benefit manager regulations
• Workers’ compensation drug formularies
• Price regulations for pharmacy‑ and physician‑dispensed drugs
• Prescription drug monitoring programs

To develop the inventory, WCRI surveyed two agencies in each state and the District of Columbia. Because prescription drug regulations continue to evolve rapidly, the report provides a snapshot as of January 1, 2026.

The report was authored by Karen Rothkin and Terence Cawley. To learn more or purchase a copy, visit www.wcrinet.org.

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Upward trends in joint replacement surgeries have been commonplace in the general population for decades, with the National Institute of Health expecting a 382% increase by 2060. As well-documented as those trends have been, there have been only a few past studies on their impact on workers’ compensation claims. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released a new study that provides insight into the latest joint replacement trends and how they specifically relate to workers’ compensation...

You can read the full review from Carrier Chronicles here.  The WCRI study is, of course, Recent Trends in Joint Replacement Among Workers’ Compensation Claims.  Visit its page on our website for information on how you can get a copy of the full report!

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Dennis Sponser writes an editorial for WorkersCompensation.com on "The Hidden Cost of Regulatory Surprise: What Workers’ Comp Stakeholders Should Know Before it’s Too Late."

There is more regulatory chaos in the workers' compensation pharmacy industry than ever before. While players focus on daily tasks like processing claims, negotiating contracts, and limiting usage, a quiet wave of changes to state regulations threatens to disrupt the entire business's economics...

Four Areas of Regulation That Need Constant Monitoring 

The workers' compensation pharmaceutical regulatory landscape consists of four main areas, each of which can significantly impact how things operate. 

1. Rules for Doctors Giving Out Medications Physician dispensing remains one of the most unstable and financially significant aspects of workers' comp pharmacy regulation. States are still trying to determine the true cost of providing prescriptions in the office, with studies showing that it can be 60% to 300% more expensive than dispensing the same medications at a retail pharmacy.

You can read the full editorial here.  The WCRI study that Sponer cites is Physician Dispensing in Workers’ Compensation (2012).

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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week fined an Alabama utility contractor $257,700, six months after three workers died from sewage gas while installing sewer lines.

Construction Labor Services, based in Eight Mile, near Mobile, Alabama, failed to provide training and emergency response plans for workers in confined spaces, OSHA said in a bulletin. The three men were inside a manhole, doing work for a local water and sewer utility company, when they were overcome with the gas and collapsed, according to the agency and local news reports...

As of early 2025, Alabama workers’ compensation law provided up to $6,500 in burial allowance, and two-thirds of a deceased worker’s weekly wages to dependents, for up to 500 weeks, according to the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute. That’s more than Mississippi law allows but less than Georgia’s benefits.

You can read (or listen to!) the full article from Insurance Journal here.  The WCRI work that they cite is Workers’ Compensation Laws as of January 1, 2025.  Visit its page on our website for more information!

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Waltham, MA, February 19, 2026—A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that benefit delivery expenses made up about 15% of total costs per indemnity claim in New York for 2021/2024 workers’ compensation claims at 36 months of experience.

“This report updates and builds upon our previous work, examining the recent trends in benefit delivery expenses and key components,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “We also drill down further on medical cost containment expenses and litigation expenses, examining key components within each of those categories.”

According to the study, benefit delivery expenses were split evenly between medical cost containment and litigation expenses. For medical cost containment expenses, the study details recent trends in payments per claim and the percentage of claims with bill review, utilization review, and case management services. For litigation‑related expenses, the report examines defense attorney fees, medical‑legal expenses, and ancillary legal expenses.

The study, Benefit Delivery Expenses in the New York Workers’ Compensation System, examines several research questions related to the frequency and costs associated with benefit delivery expenses, including:

• How have benefit delivery expenses, including medical cost containment and litigation costs, changed over time in New York?
• How have the key components within these expense categories changed?
• What policy changes may have contributed to these trends?

The analysis is based on data from WCRI’s Detailed Benchmark/Evaluation database and includes non‑COVID‑19 claims with indemnity payments from injury years 2005 through 2023. The report was authored by William Monnin‑Browder and Carol A. Telles.

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LawFuel:  In the world of administrative law, particularly in high-stakes workers’ compensation hearings, victory is rarely a product of courtroom theatrics. Instead, it is meticulously built, piece by piece, long before stepping in front of the judge. Preparation isn’t just a step; it’s the single most significant predictor of a favorable outcome, especially when strict rules of evidence apply, and there’s no jury to persuade.

A 2024 study by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute found that injured workers with legal representation receive between $7,700 and $12,400 more in indemnity benefits compared to those without an attorney, a difference often attributed to the quality of this preparatory work.

Read the full article here.  The WCRI study that they cite is Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments.  Click the link for more information, including on how to download a copy!

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North American insurers are confronting a structural, not cyclical, shift in claims costs as social inflation, medical inflation, catastrophe losses, economic volatility and rapid AI adoption converge, according to Gallagher Bassett’s 2026 Carrier Perspective: Claims Insights report.

...Medical inflation remains the single biggest cost driver. Fifty‑six percent of North American carriers identified it as the key contributor to rising claims‑related costs. Drawing on Workers Compensation Research Institute data, the report notes that medical expenses now account for more than 60% of workers’ compensation costs in the US, with aging workers and increased attention to mental health adding to complexity and duration.

Read the full review from Insurance Business here.  The WCRI report that they cite is Compscope Medical Benchmarks, 2025 Edition.  See its page elsewhere on the website for links to the individual state reports, and information on how to obtain copies.

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Waltham, MA, February 10, 2026 — The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) today announced the panelists who will headline three major discussions at its 2026 Issues & Research Conference, March 3–4 in Boston. The sessions bring together nationally recognized leaders to examine key trends, policy changes, and the challenges shaping today’s workers’ compensation system.

“These panels feature some of the most respected voices in workers’ compensation,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI president and CEO. “Attendees will hear thoughtful perspectives from individuals who not only understand the system but are helping shape it.”

Panel 1: Access to Care

How Medicaid cuts, hospital closures, and provider shortages are straining care—especially in rural areas.

• Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, Liberty Mutual — Vice President & National Medical Director
• Jessica Moyers, The Hershey Company — Environmental Health and Safety Specialist, Workers’ Compensation, ADA, Return to Work
• Jeff Nelson, Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation — Commissioner

Panel 2: Employer Perspectives

Employer leaders share practical strategies on safety, compliance, trends, and day-to-day operations.

• Lisa Daughtry, Disney — Senior Claims Manager
• Sharon DelGuercio, Publix — Director, Workers’ Compensation
• Nicole Patterson, Aramark — Director, Risk Management
• Justin Romine, Marriott International — Vice President, Global Claims

Panel 3: Perspectives on COMPlex Topics

Cross-stakeholder discussion on AI, workforce shortages, access to care, rising costs, mental health, and climate risks.

• Neil DeBlock, Zurich North America — Vice President, Head of Workers Compensation and Medical Management Claims
• Frank Rivera, Massachusetts Port Authority — Director, Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation
• Cora Roelofs, Center for Construction Research and Training — Director of Evaluation
• Paul Tauriello, Colorado Department of Labor & Employment — Director, Workers’ Compensation

The WCRI Issues & Research Conference is a leading forum for insurers, employers, policymakers, labor advocates, and health care leaders. More than 400 professionals from nearly 200 organizations have already registered. Click here to learn more and to register.

ABOUT WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Waltham, MA. Founded in 1983, WCRI produces objective, peer-reviewed studies on workers’ compensation systems, using rigorous data collection and scientific methods. Funded by its members, including employers, insurers, government agencies, health care providers, and labor organizations, WCRI produces research that helps key stakeholders make informed decisions.

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Dennis Sponer writes for WorkersCompensation.com:

Physician dispensing—the practice of physicians providing medications directly from their offices rather than through licensed pharmacies—has
evolved into a commercial model that reliably drives higher drug costs while circumventing the utilization controls embedded in the traditional
pharmacy channel. What began as a limited convenience has become a material and persistent cost driver within the workers’ compensation
pharmacy system...

The price premium is one of the main reasons physician dispensing remains so pernicious. The fact is that these incentives translate into significantly higher costs. The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that physician-dispensed drugs cost, on average, between 60% and more than 300% more than identical medications dispensed through retail pharmacies. In states where physician dispensing is permitted, it can account for as much as 20% to 45% of total workers’ compensation drug spend. While limited in-office dispensing may occasionally benefit injured workers immediately following an injury or in remote settings, industry analyses show that the practice more often results in substantially higher costs, reduced clinical oversight, inappropriate utilization, and poorer overall claim outcomes. 

You can read the full article here.  

He references the WCRI articles The Impact of Physician Dispensing on Opioid Use (2014), WCRI Research Brief: A Multistate Perspective on Physician Dispensing 2011-2014 (2017), and Are Physician Dispensing Reforms Sustainable? (2015).  Also potentially of interest is WCRI's more recent study of Interstate Variation and Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments, 5th Edition., which includes analysis of physician dispensing.

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Waltham, MA, January 29, 2026—A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shows that joint replacement surgeries are increasing in workers’ compensation.

“Monitoring the trend of joint replacements is important as various stakeholders seek to understand claim outcomes,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “This study offers a consistent framework for tracking these surgeries and provides a better understanding of who receives them, where they occur, and how surgical decisions influence claim costs and outcomes.”

The report focuses on shoulder, hip, and knee replacements, which represent the majority of joint replacement surgeries.

The study, Recent Trends in Joint Replacement Among Workers’ Compensation Claims, answers key questions such as:

• How often are these surgeries performed, and in what settings (inpatient, hospital outpatient, or ambulatory surgery centers)?
• Who are the workers receiving them?
• How much do claims with these surgeries cost, and how long is the workers’ disability duration?
• How often do workers with joint replacement procedures have revision surgery?

The study also discusses several implications from its findings, including the growing importance of health promotion and musculoskeletal wellness programs, and explores how state policies may influence patterns and trends of joint replacement surgeries.

The report was authored by Dongchun Wang, Vennela Thumula, and Randall D. Lea.

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Joe Paduda: WCRI’s annual Conference is on for March 3 and 4 in Boston. This year’s agenda is both compelling and timely. I’m really impressed by WCRI’s focus on exogenous factors that are going to have a deep and lasting impact on workers’ comp.

You can (and should) read his full post here on Substack.  And it's not too late to register!  For more information, see WCRI's blog.  Or you can register for and learn more about the conference agenda and sponsorship opportunities at the event page!

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Derrick Amato, of The ClaimLab, writes in WorkCompWire:

Workers’ compensation has made meaningful progress in digitization, bill review sophistication, and clinical guideline adherence. Yet one of the system’s most costly failure points remains largely unresolved: the lack of operational and systemic approaches to identifying injured workers at risk of delayed recovery early enough to change outcomes...

Research from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and NCCI consistently shows that delayed recovery is strongly associated with factors such as fear avoidance, catastrophizing, workplace dissatisfaction, prior claim history, and psychosocial stressors... Yet these insights rarely translate into daily claims operations action.

Read the full article here. 

The WCRI studies he refers to include Importance of Psychosocial Factors for Physical Therapy Outcomes (2024) and the more recent Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy (2025).  Visit their pages on our website for more information, including details on how to get a copy!

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WCRI's new study on Injectable Therapies in Workers' Compensation was featured on the WorkCompAcademy Weekly News Roundup webcast.  Watch here.  (Coverage of our new study starts at the 19 minute mark.)

For more information on Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation, including details on how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website; we also have a video of our own about the study!  

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James Benham, Co-Founder, CEO, JBK, and author of Be Your Own VC, writes: 

If you lead a workers’ comp program today, you don’t need one more vendor pitch to know the landscape is changing. You’re hearing about AI intake, automated medical summaries, predictive triage, and new dashboards almost every week. At the same time, your claims teams are handling more complexity per claim, aging workers, co-morbidities, psychosocial factors, even as lost-time frequency continues its long downward trend...

When you run a workers’ comp program, your long-term vendors are, in practice, partners. They may not sit on your cap table, but they influence your workflows, your data, and the day-to-day experience of injured workers and adjusters for years. You shouldn’t choose them quickly. 

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently published “Artificial Intelligence in Workers’ Compensation: An Overview of Promises and Challenges,” based on interviews with leaders from insurers, employers, providers, worker advocates, and regulators. One theme in that report is that AI’s value depends heavily on governance and alignment: how it’s implemented, how transparent it is, and how well it supports, not undermines, the mission of helping injured workers recover and return to work. 

This report shows that finding the right partner is a test of partnership. A strong vendor partner in workers’ comp looks less like a faceless software company and more like an extension of your team. They spend time understanding your jurisdictional footprint and how your people actually work. 

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Read Benham's full article here.  And visit the page for our study of AI in Workers' Compensation for more information on that topic, including details on how to download a copy!

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In this WCRI Membership Spotlight, Debra Kane, Vice President of Workers’ Compensation Claims at long-time member CNA, shares how WCRI research informs her work. With more than 30 years of leadership across personal and commercial lines, Debra oversees CNA’s claims operations, including technical claim management, large losses, medical strategy, and Defense Base Act claims, and highlights the studies she finds most valuable.

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Healthesystems: In workers’ compensation, a small group of claims cost in excess of $1 billion each year. These “mega claims” represent less than 0.1% of total
workers’ comp claims but account for over 2% of total loss dollars...

You can read the full article here.  It cites three WCRI studies: Degenerative and Comorbid Conditions in Workers’ Compensation, Factors Associated with High-Cost Claims, and The Impact of Opioid Prescriptions on Duration of Temporary Disability.  Visit their pages on our website for more information, including details on how to get copies!

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Bob Wilson, Founder of WorkersCompensation.com, is coming to WCRI's conference next month, and invites you to join him:

It’s almost that time again. The time when some of the best and brightest minds in workers’ compensation converge on a frigid New England city to discuss the state of our beloved industry. Yes, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is once again hosting its annual Issues & Research Conference, this year running March 3-4, 2026, at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts.

And it’s not just the industry’s brightest minds that will be there. I’ll be there, too.

For those who have followed this blog over the years, you know I consider the WCRI conference one of the premier events on our industry’s calendar. It’s where the serious research happens, where actual data gets presented, and where we might actually learn something useful about how our systems are performing.

You can read his full review here.  And it's not too late to register for the conference!  For more information, see WCRI's blog.  Or you can register for and learn more about the conference agenda and sponsorship opportunities at the event page!

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Nearly four in 10 workers’ compensation claims with significant lost time received injectable therapies within two years of injury, yet payments varied dramatically by state—from as low as $362 in California to as much as $2,404 in Louisiana—according to a Workers Compensation Research Institute study.

Injectable therapies are offered as valuable alternatives to invasive surgeries and addictive oral pain medications, but there is little data on their use and costs in workers’ compensation, the WCRI noted. The study, based on data from 28 states, found that 39% of claims with more than seven days of lost time received at least one injectable therapy at an average cost of $872 per claim.

Read the full article here.  The newly-released WCRI study is Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation.  You can find more information, including details on how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website; we also have a video about the study!  

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A common question we receive about our annual conference is: Who should attend? The answer is simple: anyone interested in learning about the latest research on state workers' compensation systems, gaining valuable knowledge, and connecting with peers.

Even better, take a look at the diverse organizations registered for our 2026 Annual Issues & Research Conference, happening March 3-4 in Boston, MA. More than 400 professionals from nearly 200 organizations are already registered and counting, including:

• accūrō Solutions
• Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company
• Adaptive Processing Solutions
• Advanced Hearing Providers
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 4001
• American International Group (AIG)
• Albertsons
• Allan Koba Compliance Solutions
• American Axle and Manufacturing
• Ametros
• AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
• ANS Solutions
• Aramark
• Ascellus
• Association of New Jersey Chiropractors
• Athens Administrators
• Atlantic Health System
• Atom Advantage, Inc.
• Bentley University
• Best In Class MD
• Brighterway
• Brooks Rehabilitation
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation
• Business Insurance
• Cadence Rx
• Caduceus
• California Workers' Compensation Institute
• Care at Home
• CareReview, Inc.
• Carisk Partners
• CBCS
• Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)
• Centre for Neuro Skills
• Chubb
• City of Milwaukee
• CJR Consulting Group, LLC
• ClearPrice Networks, Inc.
• CNA Insurance
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Human Resources Division
• Comp-X Medical
• Concentra
• Confluent Health
• CorVel Corporation
• CorVel/CareIQ
• Coventry (Enlyte)
• Crosstie
• CutCompCosts.com
• Dane Street
• Delaware Department of Labor – Division of Industrial Affairs
• DW Advisors LLC
• Eastern Alliance Insurance Group
• Emperion, LLC
• Enlyte
• ESIS
• Esri Inc.
• Ethos Risk Services
• Everest Insurance
• EvolutionIQ
• Eye Care Physicians & Surgeons
• FAIR Health, Inc.
• FFL Partners
• First MCO
• ForzaCare
• Gallagher Bassett
• Gallagher Re
• Go Transportation & Translation
• Goldberg Segalla
• Goren Advisors
• Gradient AI
• The Hartford
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• HCS Network Solutions, LLC
• HeadsUp Healthcare
• Health Spark Group LLC
• Healthesystems
• Helmsman Management Services LLC
• HOMELINK
• Idaho Compensation Rating Bureau (ICRB)
• ICW Group
• Idaho Industrial Commission
• IMPAXX
• Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau
• Industrial Commission of Arizona
• InQuery
• National Institutes of Health
• Intercare, an AvonRisk Company
• International Union of Elevator Constructors
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• INVO Claims Administrators
• ION Physical Therapy Network
• ISYS Solutions
• Kansas Department of Labor – Division of Workers Compensation
• Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI)
• Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Liberty Mutual Insurance / Helmsman Management Services
• Marriott International
• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
• Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
• McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Weaver & Stern, P.A.
• Medicine for Business and Industry
• MedRisk
• MEMIC Group
• Milliman
• Milliman Nodal
• Mitchell
• Modus
• Montana Department of Labor & Industry
• Montana Self Insurers Association (Missoula County)
• MTI America
• myMatrixx by Evernorth
• National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)
• NCCI Holdings, Inc.
• New Mexico Mutual Casualty Company
• New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB)
• New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF)
• Nexus
• New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB)
• NJM Insurance Group
• New York State Workers' Compensation Board
• ODG by MCG
• Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission
• Omaha National
• One Call
• One Call Medical
• Optimum Consulting Associates
• Optum
• Opus Medical
• Oregon Legislative Branch
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• PAM Health
• Paradigm Corp
• PartnerRe
• Partner Reinsurance Company of the United States – Stamford, Connecticut
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM)
• Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) / Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (DCRB)
• Perspecta
• PhysNet
• Pinnacle Actuarial Resources
• Plethy
• PMA Companies (Old Republic)
• Prime Health Services, Inc.
• Prodigy Care Services
• Propel Insurance
• Public School Workers’ Compensation Association (PSWCA)
• Publix
• QLI
• ReEmployAbility, Inc.
• Reliant Health Partners, LLC
• Rev Boost
• Rising Medical Solutions, LLC
• RxBridge
• Ryan Re Underwriting Managers
• S1 Medical
• Safety National
• Salem State University
• Sanderson Firm PLLC
• Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
• Sedgwick
• Select Medical
• Selective Insurance
• SFM Mutual Insurance Company
• Sheakley National Return to Work
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
• SMS National
• Sompo
• South Carolina House of Representatives
• Standard Publishing Corp
• Starr Indemnity & Liability Company
• State of Montana Department of Labor & Industry
• State of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training – Workers' Compensation Division
• State of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training – Arrigan Rehabilitation Center
• Stephens Insurance
• StrataCare (a MedRisk company)
• Stream
• Streamline
• Support Claim Services
• Texas Division of Workers' Compensation
• Texas Mutual Insurance Company
• The Claim Lab
• The Duncan Group LLC
• The Florida Legislature
• The Hanover Insurance Group
• The Hershey Company
• The IMA Group
• The Walt Disney World Company
• The WorkComp Advisory Group
• The Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts (WCRIBMA)
• Transcend Service
• Transcom Solutions
• Travelers Insurance Company
• TRISTAR Insurance Group
• Triton Healthcare Partners
• TRIUNE Health Group
• United Airlines
• University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Vail Resorts
• Washington Self-Insurers Association
• Workers' Compensation Trust of Connecticut
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB)
• Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB)
• WellRithms
• WheelPad L3C
• Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG)
• Windham
• WorkCompCollege.com
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment – Division of Workers’ Compensation
• WorkersCompensation.com
• Wright Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
• Zelis Healthcare
• Zurich North America

Don’t miss this chance to elevate your career, expand your expertise, and connect with your peers. Click here to learn more about the agenda or to register for the conference.

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Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a new report from WCRI that examined the use of injectable therapies play a key role in workers’ comp, including utilization, costs, key cost drivers, and recent trends across 28 states through early 2024.

The newly-released WCRI study is Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation.  You can find more information, including details on how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website; we also have a video about the study!  

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James L. Moore reviews WCRI's new study of injectable therapies in Workers' Compensation: 

One of the most discussed claims department approval reviews for medication comes from workers comp injectable therapies. Injection therapies are usually very expensive and can last for months... If you work in a Workers Comp claims department, this would be a recommended study from me.

I can identify with this study – in a way. I am required to take five days of Enoxaparin therapy (10 self-injections!) if I have to have any type of surgery or procedure.

Read his full review here.  The newly-released WCRI study is Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation.  You can find more information, including details on how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website; we also have a video about the study!  

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Business Insurance:  Roughly four in 10 lost-time workers compensation claims involved at least one injectable drug or procedure within 24 months of injury, and costs for self-administered drugs, such as those use for weight loss, doubled in six years, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The report examines injectable therapies across 28 states, including both clinician-administered procedures — such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks and joint injections — and self-administered injectable medications. Waltham, Massachusetts-based WCRI found that injectable therapies represent a significant and growing share of medical spending in workers compensation claims.

You can read their full report here. The newly-released WCRI study is Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation.  You can find more information, including details on how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website; we also have a video about the study!  

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Waltham, MA, January 15, 2026—Injectable therapies play a key role in workers’ compensation care, yet information on their use and costs remains limited. A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) addresses this gap by examining utilization, costs, key cost drivers, and recent trends across 28 states through early 2024.

“These findings help policymakers and stakeholders better understand emerging patterns in injectable therapies,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “Because many injectables are clinically complex, their use has important implications for treatment pathways, patient safety, recovery, and medical costs.”

Injectable therapies are widely used in the nonsurgical treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses, including pain and inflammation management (e.g., corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid), regenerative care (e.g., platelet-rich plasma [PRP]), and the management of comorbidities that may affect recovery (e.g., glucagon-like peptide-1 [GLP-1] drugs for obesity or insulin for diabetes).

The study examines:

• Common injectable drugs and procedures for workplace injuries
• Utilization trends for key injectables (e.g., GLP-1 drugs, hyaluronic acid, PRP, migraine therapies)
• State-level variation in use
• Costs of injectable drugs and procedures

The analysis draws on medical billing and prescription data for non-COVID-19 claims from 28 states, representing more than 75 percent of workers’ compensation benefits nationwide. The study, Injectable Therapies in Workers’ Compensation, was authored by Dr. Vennela Thumula, Te-Chun Liu, Dongchun Wang, and Dr. Randall D. Lea.

About WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), based in Waltham, MA, is an independent, not-for-profit research organization founded in 1983. WCRI provides objective information through studies and data collection that follow recognized scientific methods and rigorous peer review. The Institute does not make recommendations or take positions on the issues it researches, ensuring neutrality and credibility. Its diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government agencies, managed care companies, health care providers, regulators, labor organizations, and state agencies across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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By Healthesystems

Workers’ compensation is always evolving. As the economy, regulations, and workforce demographics change, so too does workers’ comp. Here’s where we saw the biggest impacts on workers’ comp claims management last year...

#6. Attorney Representation/Litigation Is a Major Concern
According to our Workers’ Comp Industry Insights Survey,the most concerning challenge facing the workers’ comp industry in 2025 was litigation... A 2024 Workers Compensation Research Institute study concluded that attorney involvement increases payments by $7,700 to $12,400, increases lost time days by 284%, and inflates expense payments by 200%.

You can read the full article here.  The WCRI study that they cite is Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments.  Click the link for more information, including on how to download a copy!

PS: The #1 item on their list was "Claim Complexity Is on the Rise." Their earlier article on the subject cited eight different WCRI studies.

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IWP's State of the States included the following:

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a 30-minute webinar presenting findings from its latest study, Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy on January 15th at 2pm ET. The session will examine how psychosocial “yellow flags” like fear avoidance and poor coping skills affect recovery outcomes for injured workers undergoing physical therapy. Registration is free for WCRI members, legislators, and press; non-members can attend for $50. 

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James L. Moore, writing for J&L Risk Management Consultants, is thinking about good ideas for self-insurance in 2026:

The best way to begin is by looking back at the older resolutions...

• Medical networks become more critical to self-insured success over the years.   Having an industrial-minded physician with a good bedside manner makes claims costs go down.   Remember, you are spending directly out of a budgeted account.   The next article that I am writing presently comes from a WCRI webinar on Access and Time to First Treatment.  If I were going to highlight the one number in red that costs a self-insured program the most, this would be it. 
  He adds: "This one still applies heavily. Controlling medical costs becomes difficult without knowing the medical providers who will treat your injured workers."

The WCRI study in question is Time to First Medical Service—A WCRI FlashReport (2023).  When he reviewed it in 2024, he wrote "This was one of the most informative webinars by WCRI, as all of them have been for a long time. I recommend purchasing here unless you are a WCRI member and then it is freebies."

You can find information on becoming a WCRI member elsewhere on our website!

PS: Possibly also of interest to readers is another study related to time to care: Advanced Practitioners and Workers’ Compensation Claim Outcomes.

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WorkInjuryRights.com published an opinion piece in Business Insurance and various Florida newspapers:

Florida's workers' compensation system has become increasingly complex in 2026, with legal experts reporting that many injured workers remain unaware of their full rights under state law. WorkInjuryRights.com, a Florida-based legal practice, reports observing persistent patterns of inadequate settlements and claim denials among workers who navigate the system...

According to Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) data, the average cost per Florida workers' compensation claim exceeds $30,000, with wage growth being the primary driver of recent cost increase.

You can read the full article here.  The WCRI study that they cite is CompScope™ Benchmarks for Florida, 2025 Edition.  Also potentially of interest is WCRI's research on the Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments.  Click the links for more information on both studies, including details on how you can get a copy.

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The start of a new year is a natural time to make resolutions. Start off 2026 right by joining us at the 2026 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 3–4, in Boston.

This two-day conference features original WCRI research on:

• Emerging medical treatment trends, including joint replacement and injectable drugs
• Hospital closures and impact on outcomes
• Loss of health care coverage and its effects on claims, costs, and opioid use

The program also includes nationally recognized keynote speakers:

• Dr. Benjamin Sommers (Harvard University) on potential Medicaid cuts, ACA subsidy changes, and the implications for employers and injured workers
• Dr. Bob Hartwig (University of South Carolina) on economic, labor market, and policy forces shaping workers’ compensation

In addition, the conference offers diverse and dynamic panel discussions on:

• Access to care
• Employer perspectives
• Complex issues in workers’ compensation

Attendees will have ample opportunities to network with employers, insurers, policymakers, labor leaders, health care practitioners, service providers, and researchers from across the country.

Register now to take advantage of early-bird pricing and a special conference hotel rate. Limited sponsorship opportunities are also available.

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WorkCompWire:  The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently announced it will host a 30-minute webinar presenting findings from its latest study, Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy.

“Psychosocial factors play a critical role in recovery, yet we still lack a clear understanding of their prevalence, impact, and how best to address them, especially in workers’ compensation. Our study helps close that gap by examining injured workers who received knee and shoulder physical therapy,” said Sebastian Negrusa, WCRI’s vice president of research.

The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.

Read WorkCompWire's full announcement here.  You can find more details about the webinar elsewhere on our website; or just click here to register.  Please note, however, that space is limited, so be sure to register in advance!

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As the year draws to a close, we reflect with gratitude on the progress we've achieved. Your continued support has been essential to our mission of providing credible, high-quality, and independent research to the public and policymakers—research that leads to more informed decision-making.

We deeply value our connection with you and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the year ahead. On behalf of everyone at WCRI, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and prosperity.

Warm regards,

Ramona Tanabe
President and CEO

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A short summary of WCRI's recent report on the "Impact of Recreational Marijuana Laws on Workers' Compensation Benefits" was published in the Q4 issue of the American Society of Workers' Compensation's AMCOMP Special newsletter.  You can read the full issue here. 

For more information on the WCRI study on marijuana laws, including on how you can get a copy, visit its page on our website!

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IWP (Injured Workers' Pharmacy) reports on their blog:

National: Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a 30-minute webinar to discuss its findings from Psychosocial Factors and Functional Outcomes Following Physical Therapy. The study explores how risk factors such as poor recovery expectations, fear avoidance, poor coping, catastrophizing, and perceived injustice affect recovery in injured workers undergoing physical therapy. The webinar will take place on January 15th from 2-2:30pm ET. Registration is now open, webinars are free for members and $50 for non-members.

You can read IWP's full State of the States report by following this link.

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Keynote to Address Medicaid Cuts and ACA Subsidy Expiration Impacting Workers’ Compensation

Waltham, MA, Dec. 17, 2025—The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced that Harvard health economist and physician Dr. Benjamin Sommers will deliver the keynote address on Day One of its 2026 WCRI Issues & Research Conference, March 3–4 in Boston.

His keynote will examine the impact of Medicaid cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax subsidies on health care costs for employers and access to care for injured workers.

“Federal policy changes will have far-reaching effects on workers’ compensation systems, employers, and injured workers,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI president and CEO. “Dr. Sommers will help us understand these changes and what they mean for the future.”

Dr. Sommers is the Huntley Quelch Professor of Health Care Economics at the Harvard School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. A leading health economist and practicing primary care physician, he has published over 200 articles, earned numerous awards, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019. From 2021 to 2023, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

His work appears in leading journals such as NEJM, JAMA, and Health Affairs, and has been featured by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Dr. Sommers earned both his Ph.D. in Health Policy and his M.D. from Harvard.

The WCRI Issues & Research Conference is a leading forum for workers’ compensation stakeholders, including insurers, employers, policymakers, labor advocates, and health care practitioners. Early registrants save $100 by signing up before February 4. Register now to learn more about the agenda and sponsorship opportunities.

ABOUT WCRI

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Waltham, MA. Founded in 1983, WCRI produces objective, peer-reviewed studies on workers’ compensation systems, using rigorous data collection and scientific methods. Funded by its members, including employers, insurers, government agencies, health care providers, and labor organizations, WCRI produces research that helps key stakeholders make informed decisions.

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James Benham, CEO of technology and consulting firm JBK, writes for WorkersCompensation.com:

In some claims offices, AI now writes the first claim note, flags high-risk files, and even summarizes doctor reports, before the adjuster picks up the phone. AI in workers’ comp is no longer experimental; it’s operational...

...What AI should not replace here is the first human contact. Research summarized by Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and others shows that injured workers often seek attorneys not because they’re afraid of being fired. They believe their employer questions the legitimacy of the injury or thinks their claim has been denied. Those are communication failures, not legal inevitabilities. AI can help capture what happened. The adjuster helps the worker understand what happens next. 

You can read Benham's full analysis here.  The WCRI studies he cites include "Avoiding Litigation: What Can Employers, Insurers, and State Workers’ Compensation Agencies Do?" (2010) and our more recent report on "Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments."

Also of interest here is WCRI's own work on AI in workers' comp.: "Artificial Intelligence in Workers’ Compensation: An Overview of Promises and Challenges."  Click the links for more information on all of these reports, including how to get a copy!

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IWP (Injured Workers' Pharmacy)'s weekly "State of the States" report promotes WCRI's upcoming conference:

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host its 2026 Annual WCRI Issues & Research Conference at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston, MA on March 3-4. Registration is now open and if interested, you can find the agenda here.

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William Rabb writes for Insurance Journal:

A Dunkin’ Donuts cashier who was stabbed by an Atlanta-area rapper has only the workers’ compensation remedy, even if the incident seems far outside the scope of work duties, the Georgia Court of Appeals has decided...

...In other workplace violence incidents, courts in Georgia and other states have often found that workers’ comp insurance is not considered the exclusive remedy only when the dispute was personal or non-work related.

As of 2024, Georgia workers’ compensation law provided two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, up to $800 a week, for no more than 400 weeks, unless the injury is catastrophic. That maximum is less that the maximum allowed in most other Southeastern states, according to the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute.

You can read (or listen to!) the full article from Insurance Journal here.

The WCRI study cited is Workers’ Compensation Laws as of January 1, 2025.  You can find more information on this report, including details of how to download a copy, elsewhere on our website!

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DaisyBill argues that California's Workers' Comp. system is being manipulated by insurers:

...California employers are paying 8.7% more for comp coverage. Yet, even as employers pump more of their money into the system, California doctors are paid relatively little to treat injured workers, compared to other fee-schedule states.

The table below, from a recent Workers’ Compensation Research Institute report, shows that wherever California employers’ premium dollars go, they’re largely not going toward the cost of injured workers’ medical care.

Florida, despite decreasing employers’ comp coverage rates, still pays its workers’ comp physicians significantly more as a percentage of Medicare rates than California does.

Read the full article here.  The WCRI study that they cite is Designing Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedules, 2025.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including details on how to get a copy!

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Across the country, an increasing number of states are passing PTSD presumption laws intended to protect first responders and other essential workers exposed to psychologically traumatic events. More than 30 states now allow mental health injuries to be compensable without requiring an accompanying physical injury. For many workers, this represents long-overdue recognition of the very real psychological consequences of serving their communities in dangerous, unpredictable environments. But while the intent of these laws is clear, the implementation has been anything but.

...Despite their good intentions, presumption laws have introduced several predictable challenges. First, state requirements vary dramatically...

Second, many clinicians are unprepared for the industrial context. Workers’ compensation is not traditional outpatient mental health care. Clinicians must evaluate causation, understand work-function requirements, and differentiate between acute stress, adjustment disorder, and PTSD. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) notes that most mental health providers lack training in occupational disability, which contributes to inconsistent diagnoses and treatment plans.

Read Dr. Kertay's full article in WorkCompWire here.  The WCRI study that he cites is "A Primer on Behavioral Health Care in Workers’ Compensation."   Click the link for more information on it, including instructions on how to get a copy!

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