Waltham, MA, October 16, 2025 – After years of stable payments, medical costs per claim for injured workers in California rose 5% as of 2024, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

“Payments per claim to both nonhospital and hospital providers increased in 2023, which was a shift compared with prior years,” said Sebastian Negrusa, WCRI vice president of research. “If you are a policymaker or stakeholder in the California workers’ compensation system, this study provides critical perspectives on how the system is performing compared with other states.”

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for California, 2025 Edition examines payments, prices, and utilization of workers’ compensation medical care from 2018 to 2023, with non-COVID-19 claims evaluated as of 2024. The study compares California with other states overall, by provider type, and by type of medical service.

The report, authored by William Monnin-Browder, is free for members and available to nonmembers for a fee.

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, healthcare providers, and labor organizations, WCRI produces research that helps key stakeholders make informed decisions.

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