![1.1 million employees treated in networks since 2006; New claims 52% network, 48% non-network; medical costs are 9% lower in networks; average weeks off work in network - 5, out of network - 10; employee satisfaction in network 87%, out of network 69%.](../../artwork/dwc/rc211.png)
Key findings
![Percentage of New Claims in Workers’ Compensation Networks 2010-2021](../../artwork/dwc/rc212.png)
From 2010 to 2016, networks had higher average medical costs per claim for initial care, compared to non-network claims. Since 2017, non-network average medical costs per claim at six-months post-injury had been approximately 4 percent higher on average than network claims. The difference expanded to 7.5 percent in 2021.
![Average Medical Costs (6-months maturity)](../../artwork/dwc/rc213.png)
The medical cost gap widened between network and non-network claims at 18-months post-injury (using claims from the previous report card). Network medical costs were about 11 percent lower per claim at 18-months post-injury compared with non-network claims.
![Average Medical Costs (18-months maturity)](../../artwork/dwc/rc214.png)
Since 2012, network claims consistently report higher return-to-work rates than non-network claims.
![Percentage of Injured Employees Who Reported That They Went Back to Work](../../artwork/dwc/rc215.png)
Physical functioning measures a person’s ability to do everyday tasks. Mental functioning measures a person’s ability to think and reason.
In 2021, network claims mostly reported higher physical and mental functioning scores than non-network claims. This generally means that injured employees who received network medical care reported better physical functioning and quality of life outcomes than non-network injured employees.
![Average Physical Functioning Scores](../../artwork/dwc/rc216.png)
![Average Mental Functioning Scores](../../artwork/dwc/rc217.png)
![Average Number of Days from Date of Injury to Date of First Non-Emergency Treatment (derived from administrative medical data)](../../artwork/dwc/rc218.png)