Waltham, MA, May 28, 2026—A new 36-state study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that most states saw faster growth in prices paid for workers’ compensation medical professional services from 2021 to 2024, mainly reflecting higher inflation in the general economy. In 2025, price growth slowed down in many states.

“The impact of inflation on medical prices, and the tools available to control price growth, are important issues for policymakers and other stakeholders,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI’s president and CEO. “This study helps assess whether price growth reflects national trends or state-specific factors and examines how fee schedules influence prices.”

The study, WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers’ Compensation, 2026 Edition (MPI-WC), compares prices for nonhospital professional services across states, focusing on services billed by physicians, physical therapists, and chiropractors, including evaluation and management, physical medicine, surgery, radiology, neurological testing, pain management injections, and emergency care.

Key findings include:

  • Prices varied widely, from 28 percent below the 36-state median in Massachusetts to 174 percent above in Wisconsin in 2025.
  • Prices in states without fee schedules were 41 to 188 percent higher than the typical price in states with fee schedules.
  • Price growth was faster in states without fee schedules, increasing 43 percent from 2008 to 2025 compared with 19 percent in states with fee schedules.

This 2026 edition expands the analysis to an 18-year period, from 2008 to 2025, and includes interstate price comparisons for 2024 and 2025 across 36 states. These states account for 88 percent of workers’ compensation benefits paid nationwide.

The study, authored by Dr. Rebecca Yang and Dr. Olesya Fomenko, is available for free.

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.