Workers’ comp decrease in Tennessee again

• The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance on Tuesday announced that workers’ compensation insurance premiums will decline by an average of 9.4% for most Tennessee businesses in 2024.
• The decrease, which goes into effect March 1, is the result of a decline in lost-time claim frequency and more stable claims costs, Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence said in a statement.
• It’s the 11th consecutive year businesses have paid less for comp coverage, according to the department.
• Tennessee employers have also reported fewer significant workplace injuries, which have contributed to the reduction in loss costs, the department said.
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Workers claim irregularities after blast injures 21

• Former employees of the Sandman Signature Hotel developer in Texas alleged irregular construction practices during the renovation of the downtown Fort Worth tower after an explosion injured 21 workers.
• Workers in the construction project said they were concerned about the quality of work on gas plumbing and other parts of the building.
• Fort Worth’s fire chief said last week he believes there is a “high likelihood” that there was a gas leak in the building and that equipment, such as laundry machines or a water heater, ignited the explosion.
• A kitchen worker who was the most severely injured claims employees alerted hotel management of a natural gas odor before the blast but nothing was done.
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Missouri workers struggle with freezing conditions

• U.S. death rates in winter months have been 8% to 12% higher than in non-winter months, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• The EPA also says occupational groups that work outdoors during winter months face higher risks of cold-related illness or death.
• In 2022, 52 people died in Missouri as a result of low body temperatures due to prolonged exposure to cold weather, according to the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services.
• OSHA covers most private sector workers within Missouri, but state and local government workers are not covered by the administration.
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Workers’ comp firm Com launches transparency platform

• Prodigy Care Services LLC, an Austin, Texas-based workers compensation technology company, announced Monday that it has launched its PACparency financial reporting platform.
• The platform reports financial metrics, including client savings, healthcare provider total billed charges, final reimbursements, and jurisdictional fee schedule determinations.
• PACparency provides nationwide services through network and out-of-network provider agreements.
• The new service helps clients realize more savings by offering greater financial and bill review transparency, the company stated.
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