R.I. ranks in top 20 for growth in workers’ compensation paid

WASHINGTON – Rhode Island ranked 14th in the nation for five-year growth of total workers’ compensation benefits paid (including both cash and medical benefits), according to research by the National Academy of Social Insurance.
The 17th annual report on workers’ compensation benefits, coverage and costs looks at the 2008 to 2012 time frame through the lens of medical care, rehabilitation and cash benefits paid to workers who are injured on the job or who contract work-related illnesses, as well as tracking the cost of benefits paid to families of workers who die of work-related illnesses or injuries.
Rhode Island workers receiving some form of workers’ compensation benefits were paid $177.7 million in 2012, an increase of 11.4 percent during the period. North Dakota saw a 42.7 percent growth in benefits paid, for a total of $151 million, the highest growth rate in the nation.
Maine led the way for New England states in total benefits paid growth, ranking seventh in the nation with a 16 percent five-year increase, to $306.1 million. Massachusetts ranked eighth, with a 15.3 percent increase to $978.8 million. Vermont ranked 10th, with a 14 percent gain to $146.4 million, while Connecticut ranked 11th, with a 13 percent increase to $887.2 million. New Hampshire ranked 43rd in the nation, with a 8.5 percent decline to a total of $229 million in total workers’ compensation benefits paid.
The Ocean State ranked 11th for the growth in the covered period of total workers’ compensation benefits paid per $100 of covered wages, with an increase of 6 cents to 88 cents per $100 of covered wages. New York led the way nationwide, with a 26 cent increase to $1.02 of benefits paid per $100 of covered wages.
Maine saw the biggest growth of benefits paid in New England, with an increase of 16 cents to $1.43, fourth-highest among the states. It was followed closely by Vermont, placing seventh with growth of 10 cents to $1.25 paid per $100 of covered wages, and Connecticut at No. 8, with growth of 8 cents to 89 cents. Massachusetts followed on the heels of Rhode Island at No. 12, with growth of 4 cents to 51 cents of workers’ compensation benefits paid per $100 of covered wages. New Hampshire saw total benefits paid fall 11 cents for the period, placing it at No. 42 in the nation.
On the issue of employer costs per $100 of covered wages, Rhode Island fell more toward the middle of the pack at No. 20, with a decline from 2008 to 2012 of 7 cents to $1.10. Maine saw the largest decline, 21 cents to $1.48, landing it at No. 40 on the list. Massachusetts had the sixth-largest gain in costs, 12 cents to 76 cents, followed by Connecticut, which at No. 8 on the list, saw growth of 7 cents to $1.15. New Hampshire and Vermont rounded out the New England states, with rankings of 15th and 7th respectively, on declines of 5 cents and 6 cents, respectively.
The largest decline in the nation for employer costs happened in Montana, which saw a decline of 73 cents for the employer workers compensation cost per $100 of covered wages to $2.49. The state with the largest increase was North Dakota, which saw its employer costs increase 14 cents to $1.57 per $100 of covered wages.
The full NASI report can be seen HERE.

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