San Diego, CA – Mitchell International recently released its Industry Trends Report (ITR) for the third quarter of 2019. In this quarter’s report, Mitchell executives share insights on leveraging emerging claims technology to improve strategic decision-making. Mitchell experts also identify key areas of the claims process where workflow technology has the potential to significantly improve… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of American Financial Group, Inc. and Insurance Subsidiaries
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” of Great American Insurance Company and its pooling affiliates, collectively referred to as Great American Insurance Companies (Great American). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a-” and… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Issues Revised 2018 California Aggregate Medical Payment Trends Report
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released a revised version of the California Workers’ Compensation Aggregate Medical Payment Trends report that was released last week. The revised report includes corrected shares of total medical payments and transactions for pharmaceuticals. The overall trends and findings in the original report… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Releases Report on Workers’ Comp Aggregate Medical Payment Trends
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released the California Workers’ Compensation Aggregate Medical Payment Trends report comparing medical payment information from 2016 to 2018. The report also includes an analysis on utilization and cost of opioid prescriptions over time and by region. Key findings from the report included:… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Analyzes First-Year Impact of State’s New Drug Formulary
Oakland, CA – Effective January 1, 2018, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation adopted an evidence-based drug formulary intended to reduce frictional costs in the workers’ compensation system; restrict inappropriate prescribing, especially those that relate to opioids; and ensure that injured workers receive medically necessary medications in a timely manner. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating… [Read more]
WCRI Study Examines Influence of Guidelines on Early MRI and Surgery for Low Back Pain
Cambridge, MA – With low back pain prevalent in workers’ compensation, a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) highlights large interstate variations in the use of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar decompression surgery for injured workers with low back conditions. It also finds that state-adopted medical treatment guidelines and mandatory… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Releases Report on First Quarter 2019 Insurer Experience
San Francisco, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released its quarterly update on California statewide insurer experience valued as of March 31, 2019. Highlights from the report include: California written premium for the first calendar quarter of 2019 is 12 percent below the same period for 2018, suggesting premium… [Read more]
NIOSH Study Examines Participation in Workplace Health Promotion Programs
Atlanta, GA – A new study by researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that close to 47% of workers have access to workplace health promotion programs, and among those with access, only 58% of workers take advantage of them. The study was recently published in the American Journal of… [Read more]
Coventry Releases Part Three of Annual Drug Trends Series to Address Opioids
Downers Grove, IL – Coventry recently released part three of its Annual Drug Trends Series. In part three of the series Coventry looks at opioids, which continue to decrease in proportion to overall scripts and costs, with favorable trends in Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED), duration of use, and access to guideline-supported measures including Medication-Assisted Treatment… [Read more]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. and Most Subsidiaries
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” for the members of the AmTrust Group (AmTrust). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and Long-Term ICR of “a-” of AmTrust Title Insurance Company… [Read more]