State of the States October 2, 2026

National –
• Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released two new reports and announced an upcoming webinar:

• Mental Health Claims in Workers’ Compensation: A Multistate Analysis analyzes workers’ compensation claims from 2015 through 2024 where a mental health condition, including PTSD, adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and other stress-related conditions, was the primary diagnosis. The study examines the prevalence of mental health claims across states and industries, the characteristics of affected workers, treatment patterns, claim costs, disability outcomes, and differences by gender, wage level, and worker tenure.

• Overview of Workers’ Compensation Claims Composition: A Recent Perspective—A WCRI FlashReport  found that workers’ compensation claim patterns shifted considerably between 2019 and 2024 as workforce demographics, industry employment, and economic conditions evolved. Analyzing approximately 8 million non-COVID-19 claims across 31 states, the report highlights changes in claim composition by industry, worker age, tenure, gender, and injury type, as well as variations in major claim cost components.

• Webinar: Medical Costs Are Rising: What’s Driving Growth? This free webinar will be held on October 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET and will examine the factors driving recent growth in workers’ compensation medical payments across 27 states, including the impact of medical price changes, utilization trends, and other contributors to rising claim costs. The webinar will highlight findings from CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks, 2026 Edition and explore recent trends affecting workers’ compensation medical spending nationwide. Registration is required.

• The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released its Q3 2026 Quarterly Economics Briefing, which explores recent economic developments and their impact on workers' compensation. The report highlights how U.S. manufacturing is producing more output with fewer workers as productivity, automation, and technology adoption accelerate. NCCI notes that these productivity gains have historically been associated with lower workplace injury rates, suggesting continued improvements in worker safety and favorable implications for the workers' compensation system.

Alaska – Alaska proposed updates to its Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule that would establish new billing and reimbursement requirements for topical and compounded medications. The proposal would require documented medical necessity and a new prescription for each fill of topical medications and compounded medications. Automatic refills for topical medications would no longer be permitted. It would also cap reimbursement for certain topical products at $30–$240 per 30-day supply and require ingredient-level billing for compounded medications using original manufacturer NDCs. Compounding fees would be limited to $10–$20, depending on the number of ingredients.

Florida – Florida updated its Workers’ Compensation Medical Billing Rules, effective September 2, 2026, removing provisions related to reimbursement and billing requirements for physician-dispensed medications. The changes align Florida’s workers’ compensation medical billing rules with the court’s decision in Publix Super Markets, Inc. v. Department of Financial Services, which invalidated portions of the prior physician-dispensing regulations. Stakeholders should review billing and authorization practices to ensure compliance with the updated requirements.

Texas – WorkCompCentral will host a free Texas Legislative Update webinar on Tuesday, October 27, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT, focusing on the current political and regulatory landscape for workers' compensation in Texas. The session will examine how workers' compensation is positioned within the Texas House and Texas Senate, highlight the key policy and political issues expected to shape the 90th Legislative Session, and explore the potential impact on employers, insurers, injured workers, and medical providers. Registration is required to attend.

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