Reviewing 194,000 claims, the report found that claims with degenerative comorbid conditions are 58% more likely to become a high-cost claim.
Reviewing 194,000 claims, the report found that claims with degenerative comorbid conditions are 58% more likely to become a high-cost claim.
While overall medical inflation remains low, certain tariffs are still pending, which could impact long-term costs.
Medical costs went up 8% in 2024, driven by increased utilization, fee schedule inflation, and growth in medical-legal services.
147,000 new jobs were reported in June, though half were driven by likely-seasonal education jobs.
While claim severity decreased across all industries, construction saw the steepest decline since 2015.
Initial treatment from nurse practitioners saw a 2.3% shorter time from injury to the first non-emergency service.
The report covers trends from 2003 to 2023, looking at claim frequency and costs, vocational rehab, dispute resolutions, and more.
The meeting covered 2024 healthcare costs and utilization, along with incoming regulatory changes.
In rotator cuff claims exceeding $65,000 in costs within 36 months of injury, surgery was present 85% of the time.
From 2021 to 2024, medical payments per claim increased by about 5% per year in most states, rebounding from earlier pandemic-related declines.
The report reviews 1.57 million IMR decision letters from 2015 through March 2025.
The study focuses on Oregon’s 50 largest industry classes, comparing data to every other state in the country.
The meeting focused on long-term disability claims, going into IMEs and PTSD claims.
Pharmacy service costs fell 40% - or $28 million dollars – from 2018 through 2023.
Long COVID cases made up 4.7% of COVID claims, totaling 6,000 claims, yet medical payments for long COVID claims was $105 million.
