Cambridge, MA – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) examines the effects of must-access prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and recent regulations limiting the duration of initial opioid prescriptions on various outcomes for workers with work-related injuries. “The policies examined were part of an extensive effort by stakeholders at local, state,… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
CA WCIRB Releases 2021 State of CA Workers’ Comp System Report
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released its 2021 State of the System report highlighting key metrics of the California workers’ compensation system, including the latest trends on rates, market characteristics and profitability. The annual report is developed to provide workers’ compensation professionals with a comprehensive view of… [Read more]
WCRI Study: No Noticeable Pandemic-Related Delay in Medical Treatment for Non-COVID-19 Claims
Cambridge, MA – A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) investigates patterns of medical care access and utilization that are specific to workers’ compensation during the first quarters of 2020 to understand how the timing and delivery of medical treatment were impacted by the pandemic. “In our previous work, we examined the… [Read more]
AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for Synergy Comp Insurance Company
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Synergy Comp Insurance Company (Synergy Comp) (Sharon, PA). The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Synergy Comp’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as… [Read more]
CWCI: CA Private Self-Insured Indemnity Claim Frequency, Paid & Incurred Losses Spiked in 2020
Oakland, CA – Despite the pandemic-driven recession, workers’ comp claim frequency among California’s private self-insured employers rose in 2020, fueled by a big increase in the incidence of indemnity claims which more than offset a decline in medical-only claim frequency according to a California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) analysis of the initial AY 2020 data… [Read more]
AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to SUNZ Insurance Company
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to SUNZ Insurance Company (SUNZ) (Bradenton, FL). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect SUNZ’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as… [Read more]
NSC: CDC Data Shows Largest Annual Increase in Overdose Deaths in at Least 50 Years
Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council is greatly disappointed by the latest provisional drug overdose data released by the CDC. Last year marks the largest annual increase in deaths reported from overdoses in at least 50 years, with nearly three-quarters of fatal overdoses attributed to opioids. Opioids are the cause of the single worst… [Read more]
NCCI Releases Update to Q4 2020 Medical Indicators and Trends Dashboard
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently released an update to its Medical Indicators and Trends Dashboard Q4 2020 Edition as part of its ongoing strategy to deliver more medical data insight for analysis. The dashboard provides an interactive way to visualize state-specific information presented in the Q2 and Q3 2020 Medical Perspective reports and allows… [Read more]
Study: Treatment Guideline Adherence for Back Pain Yields Far Fewer Missed Workdays
Salt Lake City, UT – Medical guidelines help doctors understand the best way to treat health conditions. Surprisingly, many doctors do not adhere to them, and this is a problem, according to a new study by scientists at University of Utah Health and MDGuidelines. People with lower back pain injury miss 11 more days of… [Read more]
Pinnacol Reports on Top CO Workplace Risks and How to Avoid Them
Denver, CO – Pinnacol Assurance recently released a new analysis aimed at raising awareness among workers and employers about the most common drivers of often avoidable workplace injuries. A recent analysis of Pinnacol claims data from January 2017 through March 2021 showed that the vast majority of workers’ injuries were a result of slipping, accounting for nearly… [Read more]