Technology Meets Human Expertise at National Comp 2026

Each year, National Comp brings together employers, claims leaders, safety professionals, and solution providers for two days of practical education and peer-driven insights. Educational sessions explored major trends in injured worker care, regulatory changes, risk management, and healthcare technology, all of which need to be on the radar of industry stakeholders.

“The workers’ compensation industry is experiencing an unprecedented wave of changes driven by technology, treatment, costs, and talent,” said Matt Sekula, Vice President, Workers’ Compensation Claims Strategy & Operations at Safety National. “Navigating an increasingly complicated system requires industry professionals to share their expertise at conferences like these. Shared experiences may be anecdotal, but when paired with trending data, they become beneficial to the industry as a whole.”

Here, we highlight five key trends identified at this year’s conference.

1. Reducing and Mitigating Physician-Dispensed Medication

In jurisdictions where it is permitted, physician dispensing of medications is increasing. This practice may fall outside certain pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) pricing controls and can contribute to higher overall claim costs. Conference discussions suggested that oversight, evidence-based prescribing, and coordination among claims professionals and healthcare providers may help reduce or mitigate physician dispensing. Proactive engagement with healthcare providers may limit unnecessary utilization while promoting safer treatment decisions.

2. Enhancing Claims Adjuster Capabilities

As technology places new demands on claims professionals, attendees emphasized the need to safeguard and strengthen adjuster capabilities, critical thinking, and decision-making. Technology can provide useful insights and help streamline administrative work, but it should support, not replace, the judgment, empathy, and specialized expertise adjusters bring to each claim. Organizations may pair technology investments with training, mentorship, and continuous learning opportunities, enabling adjusters to use new tools effectively while maintaining a thoughtful, individualized approach to injured worker care.

3. Prioritizing Stakeholder Communication

High-quality, timely communication and responsiveness remain essential to building trust, strengthening relationships, and delivering better experiences throughout the claims process. Collaboration among all parties, including injured workers, employers, brokers, carriers, vendors, and healthcare providers may contribute to more optimal injured worker outcomes. The value of a diverse group of stakeholders can prevent knowledge gaps. Also, understanding when and how to utilize various stakeholders can strengthen relationships through shared expertise. No one benefits when critical knowledge is withheld.

4. Emphasizing Thoughtful AI Usage

In the absence of a comprehensive federal AI regulatory framework, and amid evolving state and sector-specific AI requirements, organizations are often responsible for adopting enterprise-wide standards that promote safe, responsible, and secure AI use. Before implementing any AI technology, it is important for organizations to consider the appropriate policies and procedures that define AI’s ethical and operational use. These guidelines might address how data outputs are validated and filtered, as well as how regulatory compliance is monitored. AI innovation will continue, but the industry’s boundaries will ultimately be shaped by how organizations combine the technology with human experience and expertise.

5. Investing in Organizational Talent

Technology may be reshaping the workers’ compensation landscape, but a people-focused strategy remains central to the industry’s success. Clients and business partners want to work with professionals who understand workforce solutions. AI can improve efficiency, but workers’ compensation still relies on people with specialized expertise. Whether it is a claims adjuster developing skills through guidance from an experienced colleague or a risk manager applying strategies that have succeeded for other clients, these roles depend on a distinctly human touch.