WCRI 2026 Annual Conference – Day 2
The WCRI 2026 Conference – Day 2 started with Dr. Bob Hartwig. He always covers so much in a short time. Downloading the slides may help for this session. The day one highlights can be found here.
Please note that I will be uploading more of my on-paper notes to this post and the previous day’s presentation. Immersing oneself in a WCRI Conference causes information overload – in a good way.
Workers Comp = The Kids Are All Right
I am more of a data-head. Day two was full of good Risk Management Info.
Day Two Keynote: Bob Hartwig, Ph.D., CPCU
If you have not seen Dr. Bob present info on insurance, you have missed a great presentation. I highly recommend downloading the slides in the link below and look around on the Darla Moore School of Business’s website. I always find great info there.
Download the slides here – heavily recommended, yes, totally worth the download.
This would be the 15th – 17th time I have written about Dr. Bob’s presentations or articles on Workers Comp. At first, it was on how bad the Workers Comp market and claim results were 15 years ago. Now, Workers Comp pegs the only profitable line of insurance. What? I decided to ask two national claims managers if any line of insurance besides Workers Comp was profitable. Each manager said that Workers Comp has remained a profit center while other P&C lines were not doing that well.
One area that may cause some concern is medical treatment inflation at 6% This matches exactly with the next presentation – State of the States.
Workers Comp – 70% of Premiums Written, now 10%, 50% drop compared to other lines of insurance
State of the States: WCRI Benchmark Findings
Description
This session features selected findings and trends seen across WCRI’s core benchmark studies, including the 18-state CompScope™ Benchmarks reports, a multistate benchmarking program that measures the performance of a growing number of state workers’ compensation systems.
This session will also feature a presentation on the impact of networks on claim outcomes, i.e., a fresh perspective on the impact of networks on containing costs, directing medical care, providing access to care, and shaping other important claim outcomes. (The slides for this presentation are not shared on the app because the findings are preliminary. WCRI’s report on this subject will be published in the coming months.)
This session will be helpful to stakeholders and public officials who are looking to better manage, change, and control costs while improving outcomes of injured workers.
Moderator
Sebastian Negrusa, WCRI, Vice President of Research
Speakers
Evelina Radeva, WCRI, Policy Analyst
Rebecca Yang, WCRI, Senior Public Policy Analyst
Total costs per claim grew by 6% per year 2022 – 2025
Medical Payments – Same as Dr. Hartwig’s previous slides on overall health expense increases
- 2% increase for professional services
- 4% per year for hospital outpatient services
One year of treatment = 35 times more likely to become high cost
Newly hired workers more prone to injuries
More complex injuries
Delays in medical evaluations
RTW programs not as robust
Medical cost containment expenses = Median State 5.6%
Defense attorneys 4.3% Median State
Medical-Legal Expenses 6.4% Median State
Impact of Medical Provider Networks on Claim Outcomes
Currently MPNs participation rates are greater than 70% – were 52% in 2003
20% or 3 days shorter time to office visit
MPNs shorten TTD by 1.5 weeks
MPNs reduce claim litigation costs by 39%
MPNs reduce total claim costs by 26%
Effects of MPNs cost reduction in Rural areas – 20%in rural areas
States with no fee schedule – higher
Perspectives on COMPlex Topics
Description
This session brings together leaders from labor, insurers, policy, and the employer community to share their perspectives on several complex forces shaping workers’ compensation today. The panel will explore common themes raised across their diverse roles, including the evolving use of AI, workforce and provider capacity challenges, access‑to‑care issues, rising medical and catastrophic claim costs, mental health needs, and the growing impact of climate‑related risks. Attendees will gain a clearer view of the trends influencing systems, workplaces, and workers.
Panelists
Neil DeBlock, Zurich North America, Vice President – Head of Workers Compensation and Accident & Health Claims
Frank Rivera, Massachusetts Port Authority, Director of Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation
Cora Roelofs, Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), Director of Evaluation
Paul Tauriello, Workers’ Compensation | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, Director
Moderator
Andrew Kenneally, Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), Communications Director
