18 States Show Total Claim Cost Increases

Total costs per workers’ compensation claim rose between 2% and 14% annually from 2021 to 2023 across 18 states, according to a new set of studies from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.
The increase across the board in total costs per claim reflects changes in access to medical services and labor market conditions since the early pandemic years, particularly the recent rise in short-tenure workers as a share of claims, the study authors said.
The 18 states in the study are Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Several nuances noted by the report include that Delaware saw total costs per claim increase 7% per year in Delaware from 2021 to 2023, primarily driven by rapid growth in wages and temporary disability duration.
As well, Virginia tracked 7.4% average growth in total costs per claim since 2021, driven by rising indemnity benefits and benefit delivery expenses per claim, but partially offset by declining medical payments.
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An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday requires commercial truck drivers to be proficient in English.
Trump last month Trump designated English as the country’s official language in an separate executive order.
“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order said. “Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English.”
The order specifies that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will issue a new guidance on English proficiency testing and enforcement policies.
A violation of the English language proficiency requirement would put a driver “out-of-service,” the order said.
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The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission has named two new deputy commissioners, Frederick T. Schubert II and Christopher R. Wilson.
Both will serve as administrative law judges under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act and hold evidentiary hearings at the VWCC’s Manassas Regional Office.
Schubert most recently practiced with the Richmond firm of Midkiff, Muncie, & Ross, where he served as a Director and Co-Chair of the firm’s Workers’ Compensation Section.
Wilson was with the firm of Kalbaugh, Pfund & Messersmith, representing employers and insurers before the VWCC.
Two Deputy Commissioners have retired from the Commission this year, Deborah “Debbie” Wood Blevins (Roanoke) and Susan E. Cummins (Fairfax). Additionally, Deputy Commissioner Jimese P. Sherrill (Manassas) will retire in June.
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