The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) released its 2024 Network Report Card, comparing networks and non-networks across various metrics. The report analyzed 10 networks with 205,716 injured employees and 197,365 non-network claims, covering injuries from June 1, 2021, to May 31, 2023.

Health care measures analyzed in the report include:

• Health care costs
• Utilization of care
• Employee satisfaction with care
• Employee access to care
• Return to work outcomes
• Health-related outcomes

Key findings include of the report found that:

• In-network claims averaged $2,828 per claim six months post-injury, compared to $2,973 for non-network claims
• Professional services utilization was 97% in-network vs. 94% non-network. Pharmacy utilization was 27% in-network vs. 24% non-network
• 63% of network employees were satisfied with their care, compared to 55% for non-network
• Networks provided faster non-emergency care and reported fewer problems accessing needed medical care
• Networks had a higher return-to-work rate at 93%, compared to 84% for non-network claims
• Network claims generally showed better physical and mental functioning scores

Overall, the report concludes that networks continue to demonstrate more cost-efficiency and better outcomes than non-network claims.