Cambridge, MA – As concerns about behavioral health problems increased in recent years, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) heard through system stakeholder interviews that early screening for psychosocial risk factors is important to prevent delayed recovery. “The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the importance of behavioral health,” said John Ruser, president and CEO… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
CA WCIRB Releases 2022 State of CA Workers’ Comp System Report
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has released its 2022 State of the System. This report highlights 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… [Read more]
Ascellus Announces Publication of Study on Mental Health Factors for Improving Outcomes in Work-Related COVID-19
St. Petersburg, FL – Ascellus recently announced the publication of a research study conducted by Ascellus’ clinical staff and collaborators. The study demonstrates the benefits that brief work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) provides for frontline essential workers whose return-to-work process is impeded by stress, anxiety, and depressed mood, as a result of the COVID-19 virus.… [Read more]
NCCI Releases Q2 2022 Quarterly Economics Briefing
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently released its Quarterly Economics Briefing report for the second quarter of 2022, noting that Job creation stayed strong through the second quarter and jumped in July, with nearly half a million new jobs added in that month alone. Several indicators point to a coming slowdown in hiring demand, but… [Read more]
AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Synergy Comp Insurance Company
Sharon, PA – Synergy Comp recently announced that AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of Synergy Comp Insurance Company. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) have been revised to stable from positive. AM Best’s… [Read more]
NCCI Insights Report Examines Employer Perspectives on Post-Injury Return-to-Work
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently released a new Insights report based on the results of interviews with various employer professionals to get perspectives on return-to-work programs (post-injury). This is the second of two articles related to return-to-work perspectives. The views and opinions expressed in the article belong solely to those interviewed, and do not… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Releases First Quarter 2022 Experience Report
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released its Quarterly Experience Report. This report is an update on California statewide insurer experience valued as of March 31, 2022. Highlights of the report include: California written premium for 2021 is 1.4 percent below that for 2020 and is the lowest… [Read more]
CWCI: CA Private Self-Insured Claim Frequency Hit a 14-Year High in 2021
Oakland, CA – Workers’ compensation claim frequency among California’s private self-insured employers hit the highest level since 2007 last year as both medical-only and indemnity claim volume rose according to a California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) review of initial data from the state Office of Self-Insurance Plans (OSIP). OSIP’s annual summary of private self-insured data,… [Read more]
Federal Agencies Release Joint Study on Workplace Violence
Washington, DC – The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released Indicators of Workplace Violence, 2019, which provides findings on fatal and nonfatal crimes that occurred in the workplace or away from work but over work-related issues. Findings are… [Read more]
CWCI Examines Issues in Reducing California’s WC Investigation Timeline
Oakland, CA – Proposals to cut the amount of time California workers’ compensation claims administrators have to investigate work-related injuries and determine employer liability may be easier said than done given existing statutory and regulatory time frames for the various steps within the process, many of which claims organizations do not control, according to a… [Read more]