Trenton, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy recently signed a legislative package combatting worker misclassification and exploitation. The bills will crack down on employee misclassification in businesses by allowing stop-work orders against employers violating state wage, benefit, and tax law; providing assessment of penalties for violations in connection with misclassification of employees; and requiring employers to… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
Primary Care Physician Joins Ohio BWC as Chief Medical Officer
Columbus, OH – The Ohio BWC recently announced that a primary care physician has joined the agency as chief medical officer. Dr. Bradley J. Lewis, a family practice physician from Groveport, will oversee all medical components of BWC and direct medical policy. “Dr. Lewis has had an impressive career as a physician, and I welcome… [Read more]
TDI-DWC Announces Staffing Changes
Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) recently announced several staffing changes involving some of its legal professionals: Deputy Commissioner of Legal Services: Kara Mace Kara Mace will serve as the deputy commissioner for the newly created Legal Services program. Legal Services will handle rule development, open records, litigation,… [Read more]
CA DWC Announces Pilot for Electronic Submission of Doctor’s First Report of Injury
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has launched an electronic filing pilot program for physicians to submit the Form 5021 Doctor’s First Report of Occupational Illness or Injury (DFR) online. The pilot is available on a voluntary basis for physicians who agree to send their reports to DWC electronically rather than… [Read more]
CWCI Study Tracks California Workers’ Comp Professional Medical Service Trends
Oakland, CA – A new study details changes in the utilization and reimbursement of California workers’ comp physician and non-physician medical services from 2013 through 2018 – a 6-year span during which the state transitioned to a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) fee schedule mandated by 2012 legislative reforms (SB 863). The study, authored by… [Read more]
MT Commissioner Approves Decrease in Workers’ Comp Loss Costs
Helena, MT – Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale approved yet another decrease in workers compensation loss costs this week, continuing a near-decade-long trend of improving Montana’s business insurance climate that Rosendale helped kickstart in 2011. This year’s 8.1 percent overall average decrease in loss costs will go into effect this summer. Rosendale approved decreases of 17.2… [Read more]
VT Governor: Double Digit Rate Decreases for Workers’ Comp in 2020
Montpelier, VT – Governor Phil Scott recently announced that Vermont businesses will see a double-digit rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2020. The new rates, approved by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), become effective on April 1, 2020. This is the fourth straight year of rate decreases since Governor Scott took office and… [Read more]
Ohio BWC Considers Another Rate Cut for Private Employers
Columbus, OH – Ohio’s private employers would pay nearly $132 million less in premiums to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation next fiscal year under a 13% rate reduction that was recently proposed to the agency’s Board of Directors. If approved, the reduction would mark the third rate cut in three years for private employers… [Read more]
Harvard Report: Worker Misclassification in WA Leads to Millions in Revenue Losses
Olympia, WA – The number of employers engaging in worker misclassification in Washington state has risen substantially over the last 10 years. Misclassification has resulted in the denial of pay and benefits for tens of thousands of workers as well as millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to a new study from researchers with… [Read more]
WI Governor’s Prescription Drug Task Force Considers Role of PBMs, Launches Website
Milwaukee, WI – Governor Tony Evers’ Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices recently met in Milwaukee to consider the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in reducing costs for Wisconsin residents. The meeting, which was the Task Force’s second monthly meeting since launching in November 2019, included presentations from policy experts and industry leaders.… [Read more]