Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Acting Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys today announced approval of a loss-cost filing, including a 6.25 percent reduction in loss costs. Loss-costs are a component in determining workers’ comp insurance rates paid by businesses, and this reduction should lead to lower premiums for many Pennsylvania businesses. This loss-cost revision was filed by the… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
OSHA Proposes Rule to Amend Federal Occupational Injury, Illness Recordkeeping Regulation
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing amendments to its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904.41. The current regulation requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information – that they are required to keep – to OSHA. The agency uses these reports to… [Read more]
CA CHSWC Releases 2021 Annual Reports on CA Systems and WOSHTEP Program
Oakland, CA – The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) recently released two annual reports, one for the Commission’s work and one for the Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP). CHSWC’s 2021 annual report, the Commission’s 27th, presents information about the health and safety and workers’ compensation systems… [Read more]
TX Governor Abbott Appoints Ladner, Brown To Risk Management Board
Austin, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Gerald Ladner, Sr. and appointed William Brown to the Risk Management Board for terms set to expire on February 1, 2027. The State Office of Risk Management administers insurance services obtained by state agencies, including the self-insured government employee’s workers’ compensation insurance program and the state risk… [Read more]
DEA Notes Commitment to Expanding Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment
Washington, DC – DEA Administrator Anne Milgram recently announced the Drug Enforcement Administration’s continued commitment to expanding access to medication-assisted treatment to help those suffering from substance use disorder. “In this moment, when the United States is suffering tens of thousands of opioid-related overdose deaths every year, the DEA’s top priority is doing everything in… [Read more]
CA Commissioner Lara Announces Appointments to CIGA, WCIRB Boards
Sacramento, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara recently announced several new appointments to multiple statewide boards to advance the Commissioner’s and the Department of Insurance’s mission to protect California consumers. The appointments included three members to the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) Board of Governors, and one member to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau… [Read more]
WI DWD Releases 2022 Joint Task Force on Worker Misclassification and Payroll Fraud Report
Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has released the 2022 Joint Taskforce on Worker Misclassification and Payroll Fraud report, which summarizes the task force’s activities throughout 2021 and includes multiple recommendations to strengthen Wisconsin’s ability to combat these forms of fraud. The task force was created by Gov. Tony Evers on… [Read more]
AR Insurance Commissioner Announces Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease for 2022
Little Rock, AR – Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain today announced that Arkansas businesses could see another rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2022. The Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) approved an average overall average workers compensation voluntary market loss cost level decrease of 10.8% and a drop of 11% for the assigned risk market.… [Read more]
TN BWC Calls for Nominations for Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation recently announced it is requesting nominations for the fourth annual Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers’ Compensation. Nominees must have been involved in the Tennessee workers’ compensation system for a minimum of five years in one of the following categories: employer or employer’s representative,… [Read more]
ME Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa to Announces April 1 Retirement
Augusta, ME – After 33 years at the Maine Bureau of Insurance, including 10 as Superintendent and 13 as Deputy Superintendent, Eric Cioppa will retire on April 1, 2022. Cioppa joined the Bureau in 1988 as a Statistician then served as Supervisor of the Workers’ Compensation Section, prior to becoming Deputy Superintendent in 1998 and… [Read more]