Cambridge, MA – The average total cost of a Texas workers’ compensation claim remained stable from 2012 to 2017 and was among the lowest of 18 states analyzed, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). “The recent Texas trends in cost components for claims differed from trends in many other… [Read more]
Association, Rating & Research News
CA WCIRB Releases 2019 Annual Conference Presentations
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) held its 2019 Annual Conference: Vision 2020 last week, with more than 90 percent of the California workers’ compensation market’s insurers in attendance. Attendees heard from speakers including California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and WCIRB President and CEO Bill Mudge, participated in Speed… [Read more]
NCCI AIS 2019 Golf Tournament Raises $30,000 to Support Kids’ Chance
Boca Raton, FL – The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recently announced that its Annual Issues Symposium (AIS) 2019 golf tournament raised $30,000 to support Kids’ Chance. Guy Carpenter sponsored the tournament. Attendees consider AIS to be the premier Thought Leadership event for senior executives in the workers compensation industry. “We are so appreciative… [Read more]
JOEM: Mental and Physical Health Drive Employee Productivity
Elk Grove Village, IL – Mental and physical health are the most important factors affecting workplace productivity, reports an open-access paper in the June Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Martin Stepanek, MA, of Charles University, Prague, and colleagues present a “systematic and simultaneous” analysis of the many factors influencing workplace productivity. “Our study shows… [Read more]
NCCI Study Examines Formulary Implementations and Impact on Workers’ Comp
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently released a new research brief that takes a deeper look at critical factors that are influencing pharmacy experience in workers compensation. As states grapple with high prescription drug costs and an ongoing opioid crisis, regulation of prescription drug prices and utilization has become a focus of legislative activity in… [Read more]
AM Best Withdraws Credit Ratings of Eastern Re Ltd., SPC
Oldwick, NJ – AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of Eastern Re Ltd., S.P.C. (Eastern Re) (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has withdrawn the ratings of Eastern Re at the company’s… [Read more]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of AMERISAFE, Inc. and Operating Subsidiaries
Oldwick, NJ -(BusinessWire)- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a+” of American Interstate Insurance Company (Omaha, NE), Silver Oak Casualty, Inc. (Omaha, NE) and the American Interstate Insurance Company of Texas (Austin, TX) (collectively referred to as AMERISAFE Insurance Group or… [Read more]
HHS: Pain Management Task Force Issues Final Report on Best Practices for Treatment
Washington, DC – The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee established by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, recently released its final report on acute and chronic pain management best practices, calling for a balanced, individualized, patient-centered approach. To ensure best practices for the treatment of pain, the… [Read more]
AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to Synergy Comp 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-” to Synergy Comp Insurance Company (Synergy) (Sharon, PA). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Synergy’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as… [Read more]
WCRI Releases 11th Edition of Free Medical Price Index for Workers’ Comp
Cambridge, MA – As policymakers and system stakeholders in many states debate rising medical costs, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released a new study that helps compare prices paid for medical professional services across 36 states and monitor price changes from 2008 to 2018. The study, WCRI Medical Price Index for Workers’ Compensation,… [Read more]