This study informs policymakers and stakeholders in Pennsylvania by identifying current cost drivers and emerging trends in the payments, prices, and utilization of medical services across both hospital and nonhospital providers in the state’s workers’ compensation system.

The report compares these medical payment metrics in Pennsylvania with those in 26 other states and analyzes recent changes through 2025. It also monitors the impact of regulatory changes on the system, including statewide average weekly wage (SAWW)-based increases to the state’s workers’ compensation fee schedule. Additionally, we draw on findings from other WCRI studies to create a more comprehensive overview of the system in Pennsylvania.

The study also provides an overview of how shifts in the composition of workers’ compensation claims and external factors—such as the economy, inflation, and medical care—have likely affected medical payments and treatment in recent years.

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, 2026 Edition. William Monnin-Browder and Terence Cawley. September 2026. WC-26-34.