Smart PPE and Wearables Drive Down Workers’ Compensation Claims
Emerging safety technologies such as smart PPE and wearable devices can significantly lower workers’ compensation risks by decreasing the frequency and severity of injuries. These innovations allow insurance professionals to improve underwriting accuracy and offer incentives for proactive risk mitigation. Pilot programs using tech-enabled monitoring have reduced claim frequency in high-risk sectors. Integrating these tools helps reduce loss costs and promote safer workplaces.
Virginia Updates Medical Fee Schedules for Workers’ Compensation Claims
- Effective January 1, 2026, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission updated its medical fee schedules and ground rules, setting maximum allowable fees for medical services until December 31, 2027.
- These revisions include line-level adjustments and detailed fee calculations for workers’ compensation claims.
- The updates affect medical billing, insurance reserving, and dispute resolution for workers’ compensation cases statewide.
- To ensure compliance, employers and carriers need to match their reimbursement evaluations with the new regional and code-specific fee guidelines.
New Mexico Proposes Major Rule Changes for Attorney Fees and Case Management
- The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration is proposing new rules that would require attorneys to analyze a specific set of 12 issues when seeking fees that exceed the standard statutory cap.
- Additionally, the proposal aims to eliminate the requirement that injured workers and their legal counsel be permitted to participate in contacts with the agency’s case management contractor.
- These amendments, affecting Parts 4 and 7 of the WCA rules, are scheduled for an in-person public hearing on February 27, 2026, in Albuquerque.
- Public comments on the changes will be accepted through March 17, 2026, with a planned effective date of April 7, 2026.