Back to studiesWith workers' compensation medical costs continuing to rise, this new study examines payment and utilization patterns for services without established fee schedule reimbursement rates and how they vary across states.
Forty-four states and the District of Columbia use professional medical fee schedules to reimburse treatments provided to injured workers. However, many commonly used services are reimbursed without an established fee schedule rate. This study helps policymakers better understand where those gaps exist and whether they may contribute to growth in medical payments.
The study focuses on durable medical equipment and professional services billed by nonhospital providers. It analyzes medical services provided from January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2025, in workers' compensation systems with fee schedules, which account for approximately 99.5 percent of workers' compensation benefits paid in the United States.
Trends in Non-Price-Controlled Medical Services—A WCRI FlashReport. Olesya Fomenko and Rebecca Yang. July 2026. FR-26-03.
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Copyright: WCRI
