Medical Accounts for More Than Half of Comp Costs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) reported Thursday that rising prescription and treatment costs have combined to make medical benefits the lion's share of the workers' compensation tab. Barry Lipton, a NCCI senior actuary and practice leader, said prescription costs continue to play an increasing role in workers' compensation costs, in part because the pharmaceutical fee schedules adopted by state regulators. He said there are some signs costs may be leveling off in comparison to other medical expenses. But the jury's still out. "Most states have ...