This study provides a high-level view of changing prescription drug costs in workers’ compensation across 31 states.

It categorizes prescription drugs into key groups, including dermatological agents, NSAIDs, and opioids, and shows where prescribing dollars are being spent and whether spending on these drug groups is increasing or decreasing.

This edition adds migraine drugs as a separate category and includes new information on pharmacies that ship or deliver medications directly to injured workers, in addition to physician dispensing.

The analysis is based on prescriptions dispensed for non‑COVID-19 claims, with injuries occurring within three years of the prescription fill date (first quarter of 2022 to first quarter of 2025) and paid under workers’ compensation each quarter.

The 31 states included in the study are 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, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Interstate Variation and Trends in Workers’ Compensation Drug Payments, 6th Edition—A WCRI FlashReport. Vennela Thumula, Te‑Chun Liu, and Dongchun Wang. May 2026. FR-26-02.

Video: