San Francisco, CA – The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) posted a progress report today on the department’s Independent Bill Review (IBR) program. IBR is a process used to resolve billing disputes for medical treatment and medical-legal services provided to injured workers. The “2018 Independent Bill Review (IBR)… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
CA WCIRB Announces No Mid-Year 2019 Advisory Pure Premium Rate Filing
Oakland, CA – The WCIRB Governing Committee recently met to review the WCIRB Actuarial Committee’s analysis of December 31, 2018, California workers’ compensation loss and loss adjustment expense experience. Following review and discussion of the latest data and analysis, the Committee conferred on whether to direct the WCIRB to submit a mid-year 2019 advisory pure… [Read more]
NCCI Insights Report Examines Changing Workforce Demographics and Injury Frequency
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently announced the release of a new Insights report that investigates the relationship between changing workforce demographics and workers’ compensation claim frequency, and seeks to determine to what extent demographic changes in the workforce explain the trend of declining claim frequency. NCCI noted that by any measure, claim frequency in… [Read more]
WCRI Releases Online Version of 2019 Annual Report
Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently released an online version of its 2019 Annual Report, which was also distributed in hard copy at the Institute’s recently held annual conference. WCRI’s 2019 Annual Report takes a comprehensive look at all of the Institute’s activities in 2018. It begins with a letter from… [Read more]
WCRI and NIOSH to Host Free Webinar on Opioids
Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced they will host a free, one-hour webinar on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 1 p.m. ET. WCRI will discuss the findings from a recent study, Correlates of Opioid Dispensing, which identifies characteristics of injured… [Read more]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Cos’ Members
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “aa-” of WestGUARD Insurance Company, AmGUARD Insurance Company, EastGUARD Insurance Company and NorGUARD Insurance Company, which operate under an intercompany pooling agreement. These companies are members of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies (GUARD) and… [Read more]
CWCI Study Examines Impact of California Workers’ Comp Formulary
Oakland, CA – New CWCI research shows that since California implemented its workers’ compensation formulary last year, an increasing share of drugs prescribed to injured workers are either “Exempt” from prospective utilization review (UR) or “Not Listed” in the formulary, while “Non-Exempt” drugs that require UR before they can be dispensed account for a declining… [Read more]
NSC Poll: 75% of Employers Say Their Workplace Impacted by Opioid Use
Itasca, IL – Seventy-five percent of U.S. employers have been directly affected by opioids but – startlingly – only 17% feel extremely well prepared to deal with the issue, according to a survey released by the National Safety Council in recognition of Poison Prevention Week. Thirty-eight percent have experienced absenteeism or impaired worker performance, and… [Read more]
NSC: 70% of Nonfatal Workplace Assault Injuries are to Women
Itasca, IL – National Safety Council recently announced its analysis indicates that women are disproportionately impacted by certain safety issues, most notably nonfatal workplace violence. Females account for 70% of all assault-related injuries involving days away from work. The number of women who incurred assault-related injuries at work in 2017 was 12,820 – a 60%… [Read more]
Ohio Pharmacy Board Report: Opioid Prescribing in Down by 325 Million Doses in 2018
Columbus, OH – The number of prescription opioids dispensed to Ohioans declined for the sixth consecutive year in 2018, according to a newly released report from the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). From 2012 to 2018, the total number of opioids dispensed to Ohio patients decreased by 325… [Read more]