San Francisco, CA – Workers’ compensation insurance executives gathered in San Francisco alongside public policymakers and other industry stakeholders on June 13, 2013 to attend the WCIRB Annual Workers’ Compensation Conference. The conference agenda included a presentation by Dave Bellusci, WCIRB Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary, entitled The California Workers’ Compensation System: A WCIRB Perspective.
In the presentation, Mr. Bellusci discussed the latest workers’ compensation industry results and made the following observations:
- California written premium continues to grow at a double-digit rate due to increases in insurer rates and total payroll
- Average insurer rates have increased in 2012 and 2013
- After increasing sharply in 2010, California indemnity claim frequency has remained relatively flat, while average claim frequencies in other states have begun to decline
- Claim severity trends are moderating, however, pharmaceutical costs continue to increase sharply
- Expense ratios declined in 2012 as premium levels increased
- The upward trend in allocated loss adjustment expenses per claim has begun to moderate
- The accident year 2012 combined ratio decreased significantly in 2012, but remains above the national average
- SB 863 is estimated to moderate claim cost trend in 2013 and beyond and the WCIRB will continue to actively monitor the impact of the Bill as data becomes available
A video transcript of Mr. Bellusci’s presentation and a copy of his presentation are available by clicking the links below.
Presentation: The California Workers’ Compensation System: A WCIRB Perspective (PDF)
Video: The California Workers’ Compensation System: A WCIRB Perspective
Dave Bellusci, Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary
Video running time: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Following Mr. Bellusci’s presentation, WCIRB President and CEO Bill Mudge moderated a panel discussion entitled SB 863-A View from the Front Lines. Panelists included claims management professionals, medical experts from private practice and the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), an executive from Maximus Federal Services with expertise in independent medical review, a workers’ compensation defense attorney, an applicant attorney, and an administrative law judge from the DWC. Panelists offered attendees their views of SB 863 based on their direct, hands-on experience with the law.
A video transcript of the panel discussion is available by clicking the link below.
Video: SB 863-A View from the Front Lines
Video running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Panelists Included:
- Angela Mudge, Angela Livingston Collaborations, Inc.
- Karyn Smithson-Hughes, Nestlé USA
- Thomas Naughton, Maximus Federal Services
- Dr. Lavanya Kailar, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center
- Dr. Rupali Das, Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation
- The Honorable Michael Cole, Administrative Law Judge, DWC
- Gary Nelson, Gary Nelson Law James A. Rossi, Rossi Law Group
Source: CA WCIRB