Raleigh, NC – Governor Roy Cooper recently appointed Wanda Blanche Taylor and Adrian A. Phillips to serve as Commissioners on the North Carolina Industrial Commission for six-year terms, subject to confirmation by the North Carolina General Assembly. Taylor is a native of Plymouth, North Carolina. She is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
IL Gov Pritzker Signs Extension of COVID-19 Presumption for First Responders, Frontline Workers
Springfield, IL – Governor JB Pritzker recently announced that he has signed HB 4276 into law. The legislation extends worker compensation benefits until June 30, 2021, for first responders and frontline essential workers who were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 through their job. “This legislation ensures that our first responders and frontline essential workers, as… [Read more]
Ohio BWC Board Approves 7.1% Private Employer Rate Reduction
Columbus, OH – Private employers covered by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will pay $71.5 million less in premiums next policy year thanks to a rate reduction BWC’s Board of Directors recently approved. The Board approved a net 7.1% decrease to private employer rates and assessments during its regular monthly meeting, affecting approximately… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Submits September 1, 2021 Regulatory Filing
Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) recently submitted a September 1, 2021 Regulatory Filing to the California Insurance Commissioner. The filing contains the following proposals: Amendments to the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP), including amendments to the Standard Classification System. These amendments are proposed to be… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Ethics Advisory Committee Annual Report for 2019
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation recently posted the 2019 Ethics Advisory Committee’s annual report on its website. The Workers’ Compensation Ethics Advisory Committee is a state committee independent from DWC that is charged with reviewing and monitoring complaints of misconduct filed against workers’ compensation administrative law judges. The Ethics Advisory Committee… [Read more]
CA CHSWC Commissioner Mitch Steiger Reappointed by Senate Committee on Rules
Oakland, CA – The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) announces the reappointment of Mitch Steiger to the Commission. The Senate Rules Committee reappointed Mr. Steiger as a labor representative to serve on the Commission through December 31, 2024. Mr. Steiger is a legislative advocate for the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.… [Read more]
CA WCIRB Analyzes Cost Impact of California’s Drug Formulary
San Francisco, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has updated the cost impact evaluation of the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) Drug Formulary, utilizing additional pharmaceutical transaction information in 2019 through the pre-pandemic period in 2020, in its Cost Impact of California’s Drug Formulary – Two-Year Checkup research brief. California’s… [Read more]
MT Commissioner Approves Reduction in Workers’ Compensation Costs
Helena, MT – Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor Troy Downing, recently announced the approval of a decrease in workers compensation loss costs. The overall average decrease, which goes into effect on July 1, 2021, is 14.6 percent compared to last year’s 8.1 percent. This decrease is the largest since 2019 at 17.2… [Read more]
SC Governor Removes State Accident Fund Director, Orders IG to Investigate Contract Arrangement
Columbia, SC – Governor Henry McMaster recently issued Executive Order 2021-09 (PDF), removing Amy V. Cofield from the office of Director of the State Accident Fund, effective immediately. In addition, the governor has formally requested (PDF) the State Inspector General investigate the actions which precipitated Mrs. Cofield’s removal, including a recently executed procurement that was… [Read more]
States Reach $573 Million Settlement with McKinsey for Role in “Turbocharging” Opioid Epidemic with Purdue
Augusta, ME – Attorney General Aaron M. Frey recently joined a coalition of attorneys general from 47 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories in a $573 million settlement with one of the world’s largest consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, resolving investigations into the company’s role in working for opioid companies, helping those… [Read more]