Kayvan Haddadan, MD:

As a pain physician treating injured workers daily as well as being a qualified medical examiner (QME) or Independent Medical Examiner (IME) providing independent opinions, and a business owner cutting checks for workers’ comp premiums, I see the system’s strengths and serious strains up close. It started with good intentions: a no-fault safety net, so workers get care and some income if they’re hurt on the job, without dragging employers into endless lawsuits. That foundation still makes sense. But layers of rules meant to curb abuse have created so much friction that the system sometimes works against the very people it should help.

From my chair, workers’ comp insurance sometimes feels like a denial-first business. Simple, evidence-based treatments get delayed or rejected, triggering peer reviews, appeals, and lawyers. What could cost pennies in care ends up costing thousands in legal battles.
The numbers bear this out. Recent data from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shows total claim costs rose about 6 percent per year from 2022 to 2025 in the median study state, driven by medical payments, indemnity, and rising administrative and litigation expenses. Benefit delivery costs keep climbing.

Read the full article here. 

Haddadan cites several WCRI studies in his analysis, including

 CompScope™ Benchmarks, 2026 Edition

Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments,

Factors Associated with High-Cost Claims, and 

Impact of Networks on Claim Outcomes.   Visit the related pages on our website for more information on these topics, including details on how to download copies!