Sacramento, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara recently adopted and issued a revised average advisory pure premium rate, lowering the benchmark to $1.52 per $100 of payroll for workers’ compensation insurance, effective January 1, 2020. This marks the ninth consecutive reduction to the average advisory pure premium rate benchmark since January 2015. “Reduced costs should… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
OR WCD Director Savage Appointed Acting Director of DCBS
Salem, OR – Following Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services Director, Cameron Smith’s recent resignation to explore new opportunities and ways to serve Oregon, the Governor’s office appointed Workers’ Compensation Division Administrator Lou Savage to acting director. “I am proud of the care this department provides Oregonians and local businesses,” said Lou Savage, acting… [Read more]
CT Commissioner Approves Decreases in Workers’ Comp Insurance for Sixth Straight Year
Hartford, CT – Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais recently announced that the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) has approved decreases of 2.9 percent to workers compensation pure premium loss costs and a 4.5 percent reduction in rates for assigned risk. These reductions mark a sixth consecutive year drop. “The loss costs and assigned risk rates… [Read more]
OK Workers’ Comp Commission Hires Hammonds Johnson as New General Counsel
Oklahoma City, OK – The Commissioners of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) recently hired Lauren Hammonds Johnson as the agency’s new General Counsel effective November 1st, 2019. The General Counsel will work directly under Commissioners Mark Liotta, Jordan Russell and Megan Tilly. Chairman Liotta said, “Lauren has an impressive array of legal experience from… [Read more]
MN Governor Walz Reappoints Quinn to Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals Vacancy
St. Paul, MN – Governor Tim Walz recently announced the reappointment of Sean M. Quinn as a Judge on the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. Judge Quinn was originally appointed to this seat by Governor Dayton in April 2018. “I am honored to reappoint Judge Sean Quinn to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Court of… [Read more]
WCRI Webinar to Cover Latest Research on Fee Schedules and Medical Prices
Cambridge, MA – WCRI recently announced a new webinar where the various design choices of fee schedule regulations and their impact on variation in medical prices and payments across state workers’ compensation systems will be discussed during a one-hour session on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. ET. “Those who attend this webinar will… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Additional Adjustments to OMFS Inpatient Hospital Section
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently posted an order adjusting the Inpatient Hospital section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) to conform to relevant 2019 changes in the Medicare payment system as required by Labor Code section 5307.1. The order is the second Administrative Director order for the 2019… [Read more]
AK DOLWD: Significant Savings Projected for Overall Workers’ Comp System Costs
Juneau, AK – The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) has announced that recent adjustments to the Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule, as recommended by the Medical Services Review Committee, will reduce workers’ compensation system costs by a projected 3.7 percent. The National Council on Compensation Insurance reviewed the 2020 medical fee schedule… [Read more]
NASI: Workers’ Compensation Coverage Increases But Benefits Decline Nationally
Washington, DC – Benefits paid to injured workers continued to decline, while covered employment and wages continued to rise, according to data in the new Workers’ Compensation Benefits, Costs, and Coverage (2017 Data) report. Produced annually by the National Academy of Social Insurance, the report provides the only comprehensive data on workers’ compensation benefits, coverage,… [Read more]
ID DOI Announces New Deputy Director Weston Trexler
Boise, ID – The Idaho Department of Insurance recently announced its new Deputy Director, Weston Trexler. Effective on September 22, 2019, Weston Trexler (Wes) became the Department’s Deputy Director. Wes was hired to the Department as the Product Review Bureau Chief-Actuary in October 2012, and he’s been instrumental in the Department’s and the Governor’s past… [Read more]