State Reform Measures Appear to be Reducing Comp Costs

Massachusetts continues to be the nation's low-cost leader for workers' compensation medical spending, but a Workers Compensation Research Institute report released Thursday shows states that have undergone system reforms have largely succeeded in reducing costs. Massachusetts, which hasn't had any significant reforms since the 1990s, had the lowest average medical payment per workers’ compensation claim in 2013 -- $6,354 -- among 17 states studied, according to the WCRI study. However, California ranked No. 2 in terms of low medical costs and recorded a 5% decrease in ...