The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) published a new study that examines shifts in the medical workforce and their impact on injured workers, focusing on provider shortages, rising healthcare demand, and reliance on advanced practitioners (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) from 2013-2022.

While the report noted pandemic-related increases in provider vacancies, it appears those vacancies had minimal impact on claim costs, duration of disability, or types of care. Instead, there was a shift from providers to advanced practitioners.

First office visits with physicians dropped from 81% in 2013 to 60% in 2022, while the percentage of visits with nurse practitioners rose from 11% to 22% in the same timeframe, while visits to physician assistants rose from 5% to 16%.

In 2022, advanced practitioner use exceeded 50% in states like Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina, but remained below 25% in Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Virginia.

In rural areas, nurse practitioners handled 26% of first visits in rural areas by 2022.