Indiana becomes the latest state to lower rates
- Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner approved a decrease of 10.3% on average for Workers’ Compensation rates effective Jan. 1, 2023.
- Individual employers may experience a rate change different from -10.3% depending on their rating class and other rating factors. There are approximately 150 such industry types.
- The 10.3% decrease can be attributed primarily to the long-term decline in workers’ compensation countrywide claim frequency.
- The 10.3% decrease represents savings to Indiana businesses of about $80 million.
Re-adoption of med-legal telehealth emergency regulation
- The California Division of Workers’ Compensation wants to re-adopt emergency regulation to extend the effective date of the regulation beyond the current expiration date of Oct. 18, 2022.
- This regulation addresses the ongoing need for telehealth medical-legal evaluations and office location flexibility resulting from challenges related to COVID-19.
- These emergency regulations provide flexibility to help injured workers and employers continue to move their workers’ compensation claims towards a resolution.
- The regulations to extend the effective date of these emergency regulations will be filed for review with the state Office of Administrative Law on Oct. 7, 2022.
Ohio lawyer owes close to $1M because of workers’ comp fraud
- A lawyer in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, was convicted of workers’ compensation fraud and owes more than $950,000 in restitution.
- Robert Fitz was also suspended from the practice of law for two years by the Supreme Court of Ohio recently.
- The court imposed the two-year suspension with no credit for time served during the interim suspension that began in 2019.
- Fitz must provide “proof of his substantial, continuing efforts” to pay restitution to the state when applying for reinstatement.
Group wants to lower Connecticut’s rates
The National Council on Compensation Insurance recommends a 3% overall average reduction in workers’ compensation premium rates for the Connecticut voluntary market in 2023.
NCCI’s September filing with the Connecticut Insurance Department also recommends no changes in rates for the assigned risk market.
The council, which analyzes and recommends rates in more than 40 states, recommended the department approve both rate proposals, effective Jan. 1, 2023, for new and renewing policies.
If approved by regulators, Connecticut workers’ compensation rates will fall for a ninth consecutive year.