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AlbertaThe Workers’ Compensation Board launched its “Heads Up” safety awareness campaign in March. The program targets young, inexperienced, male workers. For the first time in the campaign’s five-year history, a young man, who was seriously injured in 2001, acted as a spokesperson. He described his critical injuries and difficult road to recovery to an audience of workers, government officials, safety associations, employers and the media. His presentation was compelling and well received. In the July 2003 AASCIF News, WCB reported the
launch of a new pilot return-to-work plan for back injuries. The pilot
continues, and its focus remains on early medical intervention with an
orthopedic surgeon. Case management teams involved in the pilot are seeing
a 5.4 percent improvement in the number of back claims resolved within
84 days. The target is 5 percent improvement. The plan is to roll out
this new process in 2005.
Arizona Maricopa County Superior
Court has ruled that the Arizona Legislature violated the state constitution
last spring when it passed a bill requiring SCF of Arizona to transfer
$50 million to the general fund. In granting SCF’s motion for summary
judgment, Superior Court Judge Rebecca Albrecht ruled that such a required
transfer “interferes with the contracted rights, responsibilities
and expectations” of SCF policyholders. Although SCF was established
in 1926 through enabling legislation, Albrecht pointed out in her ruling
the statutory provisions governing SCF “provide that the assets must
be used solely to pay workers’ compensation benefits and administrative
expenses of the fund.”
Kentucky For the fourth year
in a row, A.M. Best Company has assigned a rating of A—Excellent—to
Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance. KEMI has maintained this rating
from A.M. Best since March 2001.
LouisianaLouisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation’s board of directors
has declared its first-ever dividend, returning $10 million to qualifying
policyholders. This dividend is said to be the largest single dividend
ever declared in Louisiana by a workers’ compensation insurer. The
amount each policyholder received was determined based on a combination
of premiums paid and loss history over the last five years. “The
dividend accentuates the remarkable job that LWCC’s employees, agents
and policyholders have done in transforming a workers’ compensation
system that was on the verge of collapse just over 10 years ago,”
said Steve Cavanaugh, LWCC’s president and chief executive officer.
“In addition to serving as the market of last resort, LWCC has proven
to be the market leader, driving positive, competitive pressure in the
Louisiana insurance market.” LWCC was able to declare the dividend
because of its strong financial position, which is a result of operating
efficiencies, effective financial management, dedication to workplace
safety and good management of claims.
MaineAndy Wood, a safety consultant and trainer for MEMIC, has been awarded
the prestigious 2004 H.H. Jefferson Memorial Safety Award by the Forest
Resources Association, a national organization. Wood specializes in training
workers in the logging industry. He is a certified trainer in the Certified
Logging Professional program who has trained hundreds of woods workers
in safer strategies for cutting trees. He was awarded the H.H. Jefferson
Award for the Northeast region in October 2003, in part due to his leadership
in developing a new training program called the “Certified Silvicultural
Worker” program, which focuses on the work of migrant workers as
well as a broad range of safety issues faced by these tree trimmers, many
of whom work deep in the woods of Maine. Because many of the workers are
Spanish-speaking, the training is offered in Spanish as well as English.
ManitobaThe Workers Compensation Act of Manitoba is undergoing public review. A four-person panel representing employers, labour and public interest and headed by WCB Manitoba Chair Wally Fox-Decent is collecting the views of Manitobans. A report will go to the Minister of Labour in September. WCB Manitoba launched a television ad April 28 supporting the SAFE Work public awareness campaign. The spot depicts a new worker and a mother discussing the first day on a new job and the importance of asking questions about safety. The commercial is the first in a trilogy supporting a culture of safety and health at home, on the shop floor and in the executive boardroom. Of those surveyed, 85 percent of Manitobans are aware of the SAFE Work campaign, and 67 percent report they are more likely to consider safety and health at work now than they were a year ago. The WCB went live with a pilot electronic claim file May 6 in the Short
Term Claims department. The entire department is scheduled to have electronic
files by the end of the year, and the rest of the organization is slated
to be online by 2006.
MarylandIWIF recently launched a new Marina and Yacht Club product that provides group coverage to business owners in these industries. The program also features group discounts and dividends. In April, IWIF created and hosted three free seminars on workers’ compensation insurance for independent insurance agents and brokers. The course, which received accreditation approval from the Maryland Insurance Commission, focused on ratemaking and experience ratings, behavioral safety, claims management, and premium fraud. For attending IWIF’s seminar, agents received four continuing education credits toward 16 required for license renewal. More than 200 agents enrolled in IWIF’s course. To improve efficiencies and streamline data interchange between IWIF and agents, IWIF expanded its SeaPass Pilot program to include more agencies. Utilization of this system by major agency partners will eliminate duplicate data entry for agents and initial data entry for IWIF. Additionally, significant savings will be realized in the company’s Customer Service and Underwriting departments.
MinnesotaA bill containing small but meaningful steps toward workers’ compensation
medical cost control stalled in the 2004 session of the Legislature after
running into stiff opposition from chiropractors, drug companies, hospitals
and physical therapists. The bill would have allowed certified managed
care plans to negotiate fees with providers and would have strengthened
pharmacy networks by allowing insurers to negotiate rates with PBMs and
require claimants to use network pharmacies nearby. The bill originated
from the legislative recommendations of a task force chaired by Minnesota
Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Scott Brener, who has publicly
committed to making work comp medical cost control a priority. Not included
in the bill were more substantive task force recommendations including
changes in reimbursement levels for providers.
MissouriMissouri Employers Mutual Insurance continued to earn distinction as Missouri’s workers’ compensation leader by surpassing aggressive financial projections in 2003. Net income surpassed $18 million, and policyholders’ equity exceeded $65 million, a $15 million increase from year-end 2002. MEM’s focus on reducing losses and controlling expenses was reflected in a combined ratio of just over 96 percent—well below Missouri’s average of 103 percent. MEM is gearing up for WorkSAFE Week 2004. In its eighth year, WorkSAFE Week 2004 will be proclaimed by Missouri Gov. Bob Holden for June 7-11. Dimensions, MEM’s comprehensive medical and disability management
program, is receiving high marks from policyholders and injured employees
alike. In a recent survey, 96 percent of MEM policyholders indicated that
Dimensions met, exceeded or greatly exceeded their expectations, while
injured employees ranked the care and treatment they received during the
course of their injury a 7.7 on a 10-point scale, up from a 7.4 in 2002.
MontanaMontana State Fund recently launched a redesigned website. The new portal technology site serves as an e-commerce platform to assist policyholders, agents, injured workers, providers and the public with their business needs. Customers now can file First Report of Injury forms directly online as well as access a range of comprehensive detailed information. Policyholders and agents have the capability to receive instant, accurate and detailed information about their accounts through a secure customized password system. For the sixth consecutive year, the MSF Board authorized a dividend payment
to qualifying policyholders with superior safety records. Nearly 12,000
policyholders on record for the period July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002 are
eligible to receive a part of the $2 million dividend. Since 1999, MSF
has paid out more than $33 million in dividends to policyholders.
New BrunswickThe 2003 Workers’ Compensation: A Guide for New Brunswick Employers was distributed in January. This comprehensive guide covers everything New Brunswick employers need to know about workers’ compensation. A companion document, Employers’ Quick Reference Guide, is being developed and will be distributed to employers later this year. The 2003 WHSCC Annual Report was presented to the Minister of Training and Employment Development of New Brunswick on March 29. To get a copy, go to www.whscc.nb.ca or call (506) 633-5660. The WHSCC Board welcomes Chantal Lafleur of the New Brunswick Nurses’ Union, Regional Health Authority 4, Edmundston, as worker representative. The 2004 spring newsletter went out in April and is available on our
website www.whscc.nb.ca. WHSCC will be launching a free e-newsletter.
To subscribe, send your email address to: enews@whscc.nb.ca.
New MexicoThe 2004 legislative session ended with three workers’ compensation
administration bills that will help streamline the WCA. SB74 transfers
the cost of the Uninsured Worker Fund from insurance carriers to owners
and workers. HB240 was the Insurance Division Funding Bill that will give
the insurance division funds at their disposal to set its budgets and
provide the regulatory vehicle necessary to run the department. The False
or Fraudulent Insurance Applications and Claims Act, SB289, now provides
second-degree felony charges against anyone attempting to defraud an insurance
company of $2,500 or more.
New YorkCEO Ken Ross recently received the Legends Award from the American Society of Workers’ Compensation Professionals. AMCOMP cited Ross for his outstanding leadership in the workers’ compensation industry. It marked the second major honor in recent months for Ross, who received the 2003 New York Claim Association Award in recognition of excellence to the insurance industry. NYSIF is unveiling its New Case system to better manage reported incidents and claims, facilitate OSHA reporting, identify accident trends and fight fraud. The system allows NYSIF to provide a new level of customer service by recording incidents and accidents for federal OSHA requirements. Policyholders have access to system data through NYSIF’s website. Nine NYSIF employees completed Workers’ Compensation Certified Professional
training by AMCOMP, bringing the total to 35. They are Abraham Ampattu,
Catherin Carillo, Marilyn Carretta, Ernest Cupernall, Robert Dalton, Vivian
Griepenberg, Estelle Margolin, Sean O’Brien and Frank Sauerland.
North DakotaCharles “Sandy” Blunt started as the new executive director/CEO
of Workforce Safety & Insurance of North Dakota on May 3. Prior to
accepting this position, Blunt was chief operations officer/assistant
administrator for the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation. BWC is the
largest exclusive state fund workers’ compensation system in the
United States and the fifth largest underwriter of workers’ compensation
insurance in the country. Blunt had worked for BWC in various capacities
over the last eight years. “I am excited to have the opportunity
to work at another exclusive state fund that is nationally recognized,”
said Blunt. “WSI’s mission is to be the best system in the United
States, and I want to work with the best.” Blunt has formulated a
90-day plan for the transition and plans to “spend the majority of
time meeting with the agency’s staff members and stakeholders to
listen and learn about the organization.”
OhioTina Kielmeyer is Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s new assistant administrator and chief operating officer. She replaces Sandy Blunt, who accepted a position as North Dakota WSI’s executive director. Kielmeyer has played a pivotal role in helping to make BWC the efficient, effective organization it is today. Gov. Bob Taft and BWC Administrator/CEO James Conrad are sponsoring the ninth Governor’s Excellence in Workers’ Compensation Award program. The program recognizes Ohio organizations that stand out from the rest by providing a safe, cost-effective workplace for their employees. BWC will announce the winners in June. For information, log on www.ohiobwc.com. BWC will hold its annual Workers’ Compensation University this fall
in six Ohio cities beginning Sept. 9 in Dayton. WCU, Ohio’s largest
workers’ compensation conference, focuses on cost-containment strategies
and workplace safety initiatives for all of its partners to help them
run a safe, well-organized workers’ compensation program. For information,
log on www.ohiobwc.com.
OklahomaCompSource Oklahoma recently refined its mission statement. The statement,
“Partnering with all Oklahoma employers as the source for their workers’
compensation needs,” continues to place the focus on customer needs.
“We believe our mission statement captures the heart of what we are
trying to focus our resources on, which is customer service. By becoming
partners with Oklahoma employers, we are committing to providing impeccable
service whether that be claims service, loss prevention, fraud fighting
or proper determination. A mission statement provides a sense of direction,
a path for which those objectives can be achieved,” said Terry McCullar,
CompSource president and chief executive officer.
PennsylvaniaThe final phase of State Workers’ Insurance Fund’s computer
modernization project resulting in a client server platform to replace
the current mainframe system has an anticipated conversion date of mid-November
2004. The new system developed by Taliant will use software modified to
SWIF’s business requirements. The system will include conversion
of the physical policy and claim folders to a digital-imaged format designed
to improve the business of workers’ compensation. Automated workflow
of job functions will also be incorporated into the software. Taliant
is currently logging any defects reported by the SWIF Division teams and
making application changes to be available for two rounds of user acceptance
testing. Employee training will be conducted in phases beginning in August
for both home and district office personnel. In November, the mainframe
will be phased out of service with data conversion and final testing to
be completed followed by an anticipated Power Comp start date of Nov.
15.
Rhode IslandIn the early ‘90s, Rhode Island’s workers’ compensation market was in dire need of repair. With a 32 percent rate increase approved by the Department of Business Regulation, and a proposed 123 percent rate hike by the NCCI, the system was in shambles. Insurance companies were losing money rapidly and many stopped writing policies entirely. In addition, local employers claimed that rising premiums were devastating their businesses, forcing them to leave the state or go out of business entirely. Since creation of The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company in 1992, it has
worked diligently to lower workers’ compensation premiums and reduce
workplace injuries throughout Rhode Island. In 1993, the average cost
to employers for workers’ compensation insurance through Beacon comprised
more than 4 percent of their payroll. Today, workers’ compensation
insurance premiums equate to 2.1 percent of their total payroll. While
more work needs to be done, we are proud of our position as the workers’
compensation insurer of choice in Rhode Island.
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board ended 2003 with a significantly improved bottom line—a $7.9 million operating shortfall compared to $93.5 million in 2002. The major drivers of the improvement include better investment returns, a drop in claims costs and an increase in premium revenue. “We have begun to see the impact of our recently introduced team-based approach to case management,” CEO Peter Federko said. Time-loss claims’ average duration decreased by more than five days while customer satisfaction among employers and workers exceeded 80 percent. Regina is the host city for the Canadian observation of NAOSH week in 2004, adding to the significance of Saskatchewan as home to Canada’s first occupational health and safety legislation in 1972. Nearly 300 stakeholders from five provinces attended Comp Institute,
a free two-day educational event in March. Representatives from employers,
labour and other groups were there to network, learn and share. Next year’s
event is March 21-22 in Saskatoon.
YukonThe Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board is hosting
the AWCBC annual Congress Aug. 8-11 in Whitehorse, Yukon. Top decision-makers
from Canadian workers’ compensation boards and commissions will meet
in a setting overlooking the spectacular and historic Yukon River Valley,
where gold seekers traveled more than a century ago on their way to the
Klondike. The theme is “Scaling New Heights.” Keynote speakers
include Sheila Fraser, auditor general of Canada, and Peter Hillary, son
of Sir Edmund Hillary, who will inspire delegates with insights from his
25 years in extreme risk environments, including two climbs of Mount Everest.
The conference also includes sessions on chronic pain and stress, invisible
disabilities, community prevention, occupational cancer, disability management
and new accounting rules. To participate as a delegate or sponsor, go
to www.yukonin2004.com.
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