California workers' compensation medical costs rise 5% in 2026 per the WCIRB By Lonce Lamonte - September 10, 2026 The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) recorded medical service costs paid per workers' compensation increased in 2026 by 5% after rising 10% in 2024. Medical expenses were 52% of total loss payments in California's workers' compensation system during the past year. This 2025-2026 increase showed a 4% rise in average prices paid per transaction with a 1% increase in utilization. Southern California recorded an 8% increase in per claim medical paid while Northern California remained stable. Service categories showing higher prices drove most of the increase in Southern California. In Northern California, average lower prices offset stronger utilization growth. This left the overall paid on each claim stable with little change. Read More

California's DIR, DWC release report on access to medical care in California’s workers’ compensation system By Lonce Lamonte, editor, editing the CA DWC Newsline news release - August 27, 2026 The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers' Compensation(DWC) released a RAND research report examining injured workers’ access to medical care and provider participation in California’s workers’ compensation system. DIR funded the study, which was conducted as required by Labor Code section 5307.2. The report is the first in a series of four annual RAND studies that will track injured workers’ access to medical care and the factors that influence it. It establishes a baseline for ongoing monitoring. Read More

California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation releases report on Senate Bill 1160’s impact on utilization review By Lonce Lamonte, editor, editing the CA DWC Newsline news release - August 19, 2026 The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted a new research report examining the impact of Senate Bill (SB) 1160, including provisions that reduced prospective utilization review (UR) requirements for certain medical treatments provided during the first 30 days after a work-related injury. Read More

Robert Nagle, investigator well-known for workers’ compensation claims investigations and founder of RJN Investigations, Inc., has passed away. He will be mourned and missed. By Lonce Lamonte - August 17, 2026 Robert Nagle, the Founder and President of RJN Investigations, has died.  He passed away on August 12th 2026.  He was only 62 years old. No services have yet been announced. Robert is survived by his wife Daralyn and by his offspring Dean and Brianne. He is also survived by a spiritual brother, Ty Montoya, Vice President of RJN Investigations, who was very close to Robert. Read More

More News

August 5, 2026 - California's Division of Workers' Compensation updates hospital outpatient department and ambulatory surgical center fee schedule to reflect additional July 2026 Medicare changes

July 24, 2026 - World Cup Winner Worked in Insurance for Years

July 23, 2026 - California's Division of Workers' Compensation increases mileage reimbursement rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses

July 20, 2026 - California's Division of Workers' Compensation updates hospital outpatient department and ambulatory surgical center fee schedule to reflect July 2026 Medicare changes

July 9, 2026 - California Division of Workers' Compensation updates fee schedule for physician and non-physician practitioner services to reflect Medicare changes

July 8, 2026 - California Division of Workers' Compensation now accepting applications for Qualified Medical Evaluator examination

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