The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) published its Geo Study 2025, providing insights into how claim patterns and cost drivers vary across the state. The study includes an interactive map that allows users to explore regional differences in key metrics.

Recognizing regional differences allows stakeholders to identify rising costs, anticipate potential care delays, and implement targeted strategies that improve outcomes and reduce inefficiencies. The report and accompanying 2025 data table enable regional comparisons, including pharmaceutical spending and opioid utilization (MDC04–MDC09), days to care for physical therapy (MDC10–MDC13), and overall medical costs (MDC14).

Key highlights of the study include:

• Southern California continues to experience higher claim frequency and a larger share of complex claims
• Cumulative trauma and occupational disease claims are rising statewide, with the steepest increases in Southern California
• Medical-legal costs have climbed to their highest levels in years
• Allocated loss adjustment expenses, claim-specific costs that an insurer incurs while investigating, managing, defending, or settling a claim, remain on an upward trajectory across most regions