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]
Legislative & Regulatory News
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]
WCRI Study Examines Impact of Reforms on New York Workers’ Comp System
Cambridge, MA – The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) recently released a new report for system stakeholders to track the performance of the New York workers’ compensation benefit delivery system. “Originally established to monitor the system following reforms in 2007, the report has evolved into a tool for tracking key metrics of system performance on… [Read more]
FL OIR Orders Larger Workers’ Comp Insurance Rate Decrease for 2020
Tallahassee, FL – Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier recently issued an Order on Rate Filing to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) requesting an amended filing to reduce workers’ compensation rates by 7.5 percent for 2020. The Order notifies NCCI that the rate filing submitted for a 5.4% rate decrease has been disapproved and,… [Read more]