Oklahoma City, OK – Commissioner Glen Mulready recently announced that the Oklahoma Insurance Department had approved a 9.4 percent decrease in workers’ compensation insurance loss costs for 2022. This reduction will lead to lower premiums for many Oklahoma businesses. Loss costs are the average cost of lost wages and medical payments of workers injured per… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
NYS WCB Warns on Policy Regarding Payments by DME Suppliers to Health Care Providers
Albany, NY – New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Chair Clarissa M. Rodriguez recently issued a bulletin to Health Care Providers and Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment noting the determination that the solicitation or receipt of payments from a third party for chiropractic or other health care treatment and services (including so-called “fitting fees” or… [Read more]
CA DWC Announces Temporary Total Disability Rates for 2022 Remain Unchanged
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently announced that the 2022 minimum and maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rates will not change. The minimum TTD will remain $203.44 and the maximum TTD rate will remain $1,356.31 per week. Labor Code Section 4453(a) (10) requires the maximum and minimum weekly earnings upon… [Read more]
CA DWC to Re-Adopt Emergency Regs for Med-Legal Evals and Reporting
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) issued its Notice of Emergency Regulation Re-Adoption of regulations sections 46.2 and 36.7 for medical-legal evaluations and reporting. The emergency regulations are set to expire on October 12, 2021, and re-adoption would extend the emergency regulations for an additional 90 days. This is DWC’s second… [Read more]
OR DCBS: Workers’Compensation Costs to Drop for Ninth-Straight Year
Salem, OR – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) recently announced that in 2022, Oregon employers, on average, will pay less for workers’ compensation coverage. The decline in costs marks nine years of average decreases in the pure premium rate – the base rate insurers use to determine how much employers must… [Read more]
Ohio BWC’s Annual Memorial Service Honors Fallen Workers
Columbus, OH – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) recently paid tribute to 114* Ohioans who died as a result of a workplace illness or accident. BWC Chief of Strategy John Logue who led the annual Fallen Workers Memorial said, “We stand here today to honor Ohioans who lost their lives in service to… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Examines Changes to the Multiple Enterprises Rule Effective September 1, 2021
Oakland CA – The California WCIRB recently released a look at changes to the Multiple Enterprises Rule, which became effective September 1, 2021. Most businesses in California are Single Enterprises, which means that all the normal and usual operations for the business are assigned to a single classification. However, some businesses have two or more… [Read more]
TX Governor Abbott Appoints Brown as Commissioner of Insurance
Austin, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Cassie Brown as the Commissioner of Insurance for a term set to expire on February 1, 2023. Cassie Brown of Austin has served as the Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation since June 2018. Previously, she served as is deputy commissioner for Regulatory Policy at the Texas Department of… [Read more]
TDI Workers’ Comp Research & Evaluation Group Adopts 2022 Research Agenda
Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation recently announced it has has adopted the Fiscal Year 2022 Research Agenda of the Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group (REG). The Texas Labor Code requires the REG to conduct professional studies and research related to the operational effectiveness of the Texas workers’… [Read more]
NYS WCB Issues Drug Formulary Update and Medical Marijuana Clarification
Albany, NY – The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board recently announced that regulations regarding the New York Workers’ Compensation Drug Formulary that were adopted by the Board Chair and published in the September 1, 2021, State Register will be deferred from September 1, 2021. The regulations will coincide with the launch of OnBoard: Limited… [Read more]