The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) published the CompScope™ Benchmarks, 24th Edition, a series of 14 reports that measure the performance of 17 state workers’ comp systems from 2017-2022, with claims experience through March 2023.
The reports examine how income benefits, overall medical payments, costs, use of benefits, duration of temporary disability, litigiousness, benefit delivery expenses, timeliness of payments, and other metrics of system performance have changed.
Key findings from a handful of the state reports are as follows.
In California, the total costs per claim with more than seven days of lost time rose 4% in 2022/2023, driven by a 6% increase in indemnity benefits. Growth in wages contributed to growth in indemnity.
In Florida, the total costs per claim grew 7% in 2022, mainly due to significant rise in indemnity benefits. Faster wage growth and longer temporary disability duration contributed to growth in indemnity. Medical payments per claim were stable in 2021-2022, following a decrease in 2020.
In Louisiana, total costs grew 7% from 2021 to 2022, primarily fueled by a 7% increase in indemnity benefits and an 8% rise in medical payments. These increases followed a period of little change from 2018-2021. Costs per claim in Louisiana were among the highest for all components, growing faster than other states due to persistent drivers, including duration of temporary disability, lump-sum settlements, hospital outpatient payments and facility payments, and payments to defense attorneys.
In Michigan, the total cost per claim increased 7% in 2022/2023, with growth in indemnity benefits at 6% and medical payments per claim at 8%. However, Michigan saw the lowest total cost per claim, due to all key cost components being lower.
In Pennsylvania, the total costs per claim with more than seven days of lost time increased 4% in 2022/2023, driven by an 8% increase in indemnity benefits and contributions from benefit delivery expenses.
