Oakland, CA – The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has issued the 2020 assessments that workers’ compensation insurers are required to collect from policyholders to cover the budget of the state Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) and five related programs set up by state lawmakers. Insurers should apply the following rates against their policyholders’… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
CA WCIRB Releases Follow-up Analysis of Medical Provider Fraud in Workers’ Comp
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently released Treatment Patterns of Medical Providers Indicted for Fraud in California Workers’ Compensation, a follow-up analysis to its 2018 study that evaluated the potential impact of medical provider fraud enforcement. While Senate Bill No. 863 and subsequent legislation led to significant reduction… [Read more]
NYS WCB Announces Implementation of Workers’ Comp Formulary Effective Today
Albany, NY – The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board recently announced that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Formulary (NY WC Formulary) would become effective today for all new prescriptions. Starting today, all new prescriptions for injured workers in New York State must be listed within the NY WC Formulary unless an alternative medication has been… [Read more]
IL Governor Pritzker Makes Six Appointments to Workers’ Compensation Commission
Springfield, IL – Governor JB Pritzker recently announced the following appointments to the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission: Joseph Amarilio will serve as an Arbitrator on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.* Amarilio currently works as a partner at Elfenbaum, Evers, Amarilio and Zielinska, representing injured workers and their families. In addition, he has worked as an attorney… [Read more]
CA DWC Independent Medical Review Report Details Steady Activity and Outcomes
San Francisco, CA – The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently posted a progress report on the Department’s Independent Medical Review (IMR) program. IMR is the medical dispute resolution process for the state’s workers’ compensation system that uses medical expertise to obtain consistent, evidence-based decisions. The report describes… [Read more]
WA L&I: Workers’ Comp Prices Decreasing for Third Consecutive Year
Tumwater, WA – For the third year in a row, the price of workers’ compensation insurance is dropping in Washington, with the Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) announcement of a 0.8% decrease in the average amount employers will pay for the coverage in 2020. L&I cut rates by 5% in 2019 and 2.5% in… [Read more]
WCRI: Policy Choices Affecting Medical Payments for Different Providers in FL
Cambridge, MA – Medical payments per claim in Florida have been typical of other states for workers’ compensation claims with more than seven days of lost time; however, this result masks several offsetting factors mainly related to fee regulations, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The study, CompScope™ Medical… [Read more]
FL OIR Approves 7.5% Decrease to Florida’s Workers’ Comp Insurance Rates
Tallahassee, FL – Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier recently issued a Final Order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall decrease of 7.5% for Florida workers’ compensation insurance rates. This applies to both new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance policies effective in Florida as of January 1, 2020.… [Read more]
LA Commissioner Donelon Approves Workers’ Compensation Rate Decrease
Baton Rouge, LA – Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Donelon recently approved the annual loss cost filing of the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) effective May 1, 2020. The filing reduces Workers Compensation rates -8.4% and continues the downward trend of the last six years. “This reduction is more welcome news for Louisiana businesses and individuals… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Reminder for Submission of Annual Report of Inventory for 2019 Claims
San Francisco, CA – The California Division of Workers’ Compensation recently issued a reminder to claims administrators that the annual report of inventory (ARI) must be submitted in early 2020 for claims reported in calendar year 2019. The California Code of Regulations, title 8, Section 10104 requires claims administrators to file, by April 1 of… [Read more]