Claims take longer in California
- It takes seven years to close 90 percent of claims in California compared to three years for the median state, according to new data by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California.
- Longer California claim duration is driven by four “duration drivers,” including a higher share of permanent partial disability and cumulative trauma claims in California.
- There is also a greater utilization of medical-legal services in California and regional differences within the state.
- Claim closing rates increased steadily following the reforms of Senate Bill No. 863, particularly for PPD claims of lower-wage workers.
Investigation opens for managed care firm
- The Ohio Inspector General and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Special Investigations Department conducted a joint investigation of CareWorks, a managed care organization.
- They found the company allegedly elicited responses from injured workers and employers to bolster data to calculate the company’s portion of an incentive payment pool shared with other firms.
- CareWorks had allegedly implemented processes for staff to ask certain questions in a manner that obtained a favorable response for the managed care organization.
- Investigators determined CareWorks allegedly only updated known claim data inaccuracies that would have a positive impact on a claims score used in determining its share of the incentive payment pool.
Workers comp to rise in Washington state
- Worker’s compensation premiums will increase by 4.8% on Jan. 1, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries said.
- The wage increases and rising medical costs led to the rate increase.
- The increase means that employers and workers will jointly pay an additional $61 a year per worker.
- Workers will still pay on average a similar percentage to what was paid in 2022, about one-quarter of the total premium.
Rates affecting employment
- High costs for worker’s compensation insurance in New York have impacted employment.
- Business groups want more property tax relief to alleviate the strain on the economy.
- There has also been a challenge with finding workers in the post-pandemic era.
- Business groups also questioned the need for a state-run OSHA when there already is a federal agency overseeing safety.