NY WCB Pushes Support For Expanded WC Med Care

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has rolled out a campaign to support Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposals expanding access to medical care for injured workers.
In her 2025 State of the State agenda, the governor included four legislative proposals and a regulatory change designed to give the Empire State’s injured workers more options for timely, high-quality medical care.
Among the proposals is universal authorization of all eligible, licensed healthcare providers in good standing to treat workers’ compensation patients.
Currently, only providers authorized by the WCB may treat injured workers. The proposal would make authorization an automatic part of their state licensing.
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NCCI said its Q1 Economic Outlook shows labor market forecasts that are all positive indicators for workers compensation, both in terms of premium growth as well as downward frequency pressure from fewer low-tenured workers.
Job growth of around 2 million, wage growth of about 4.0% (meaningfully above pre-pandemic averages), and low turnover are all positive indicators for workers compensation, both in terms of premium growth as well as downward frequency pressure from fewer low-tenured workers, the Outlook’s authors said.
They said a key trend to watch in 2024 is the possible reaccelration of the labor market, with increased hiring and increased turnover.
For workers compensation, a reacceleration would stoke payroll and premium growth but could also place upward pressure on frequency trends from newly hired workers.
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Staffing and office reductions at the Social Security Administration are expected to result in a less efficient and more time-consuming process for Social Security Disability claims, observes popular blogger and Workers Compensation lawyer Jon Gelman.
“Changes within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could have negative economic repercussions for states that rely on a loophole that allows workers’ compensation insurance carriers to benefit from Social Security Disability payments through reverse offsets.,” Gelman wrote in a March 19 post.
“A reverse offset is when workers’ compensation (WC) benefits are reduced because the recipient also receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits,” the post said.
In that case, the workers’ compensation company or the employer benefits from the offset, not the federal system.
“This contrasts with the standard offset, where SSDI benefits are reduced due to WC benefits.”
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