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Alberta
Employers attending this year's annual general meeting were pleased to hear WCB-Alberta is projecting a 7.6 percent drop in 2005's average premium rate—down to $1.83 per hundred dollars of insurable earnings from 2004's $1.98. The drop is attributed to improved employer safety performance and good disability management partnerships resulting in a reduced number of temporary total disability days. A record 163 guests attended the annual general meeting. An additional 59 people viewed the live broadcast on WCB's website—its third year to broadcast the event. Feedback from attendees has been positive with 83 percent in agreement that the meeting is informative and makes WCB more open, transparent and accountable to stakeholders. 
Arizona
SCF President and CEO Donald A. Smith Jr. announced promotions of Duane T. Miller to executive vice president and chief operating officer and Anna Rodriguez to director, Investments. He also named DeeAnn Palin as vice president, Human Resources and Organization Development. Miller, a CPA, has been with SCF since 2000 as chief financial officer. He spent 20 years in finance, insurance and management at companies such as American Founders Life Insurance Co., Johnson & Higgins/Kirke-Van Orsdel Inc., Sun America and All State Insurance Co. Palin joins SCF after working in Houston as regional human resources manager for Target Corp. Rodriguez, who will manage SCF's investment portfolio, joined the company in 1999. In 2002, she formed the Investment Team. She previously worked for AirEvac Services, Samaritan Health Service (now Banner Healthcare) and Ernst & Young.
California
Two important 2004 workers' compensation reform bills revamped many components of the workers' compensation system. In response to the bills, State Fund established Reform Implementation Teams to study and help integrate the reform measures. However, workers' compensation rate relief continued to be a hot issue with politicians, business leaders and interest groups. Also in 2004 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed another landmark workers' compensation reform package. One of the goals of the legislation was to have a favorable impact on workers' compensation rates. State Fund further established statewide reform implementation teams to ensure the implementation of the complex legislation.
On June 4, State Fund announced a 7 percent rate decrease. The decrease was a result of the cost saving reforms adopted by the governor and Legislature earlier this year.
State Fund welcomed three new members to its board of directors. On July 6, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of Jeanne Cain as chairwoman of State Fund's board. The governor also appointed Kent Dagg and Vincent Mudd to the board.
Colorado
Pinnacol Assurance announced two new appointees to its board of directors: David W. Green of Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins and Paul J. Suss of Suss Pontiac GMC in Aurora.
Pinnacol Foundation awarded college scholarships totaling $55,500 to 20 applicants for the 2004-2005 academic year. Pinnacol Assurance spearheaded the creation of Pinnacol Foundation, which provides college scholarship opportunities to the children of Colorado workers killed or seriously disabled in a compensable work-related accident, regardless of insurance carrier.
Pinnacol Assurance expanded its corporate community volunteer program, Pinnacol in Action, to include the talents and resources of customers and service partners. Pinnacol employees, insurance agents and policyholders participate in sports-related activities with at-risk youths, chaperone field trips for disadvantaged children, and provide hot meals to homebound residents.
Kentucky
KEMI was awarded "The Top Business for Women Award" by Women Leading Kentucky. KEMI is the first recipient of this award, created in 2004 to recognize a Kentucky business with policies dedicated to recruiting, retaining and advancing women. Women Leading Kentucky is an organization comprised of men and women dedicated to creating opportunities for women in business through education, networking, scholarships, recognition of role models and women-friendly policies and practices.
Maryland
The Baltimore Chapter of the American Marketing Association awarded their Marketing Excellence Award to the Injured Workers' Insurance Fund for its strategic re-branding campaign, developed to improve IWIF's reputation in the marketplace and position it as the insurer of choice. IWIF was selected for the award based on its results-driven marketing, advertising and public relations efforts.
IWIF's Special Investigations Unit continues its vigilant fight against fraud in 2004. By mid-year, the SIU had made 14 claimant arrests/referrals. Premium fraud billed totaled $2,783,048, and collected $1,728,221. Claim hard recoveries totaled $95,438, while claim soft dollar reserve takedowns amounted to $9,638,309.
For the fourth consecutive year, IWIF sponsored Maryland's Workplace Safety Week in June. To create awareness, IWIF developed a two-week public relations campaign using public service announcements for radio and television. The campaign highlighted the most common, preventable workplace accidents. IWIF also publicly honored several policyholders with Premier Workplace Safety Awards.
Minnesota
State Fund Mutual, which has always encouraged agents to send it their very small accounts, is now directly soliciting the low-risk "micro" employers in the Minnesota Assigned Risk Plan—the ones agents typically are happy to see move out of the growing residual market but generally don't have time to deal with themselves.
Online claims reporting hit an all-time weekly high of 57 percent during the last week of June and again during a week in September. Year-to-date, online reporting through SFM's website is averaging more than 50 percent.
An online version of SFM's well-read bimonthly publication to agents was launched in mid-year, generating enthusiastic feedback regarding easy access to news, the ability to e-share it with others, and the convenience of electronic forms distributed as attachments to news stories.
Missouri
Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance received high policyholder ratings for the second quarter of 2004. For image, quality and value, the sample of 112 policyholders rated MEM a 6.5 on a 10point scale, well above the 5.0 quite acceptable rating. MEM expects customer satisfaction ratings to continue to improve as the market changes and impacts price.
MEM also continues to be the market leader in Missouri with 18.8 percent of the market in 2003, according to the Missouri Department of Insurance. MEM's nearest competitor, with 11.4 percent of the market, is Travelers Property Casualty Corp.
Montana
Montana State Fund recently launched and co-branded a 24/7 web-based safety training tool on www.msfsafetytrainer.com. The e-learning system allows Montana businesses to train employees and track their progress in far less time and at a lower cost than most traditional training methods. There are 195 safety and human resources compliance courses that business owners may select from, with more being created every day.
Tony Johnson has been appointed the new vice president of Human Resources. His experience includes more than 12 years of HR leadership with Jetway Systems, Great Plains Software, Sarcos Inc. and most recently with Microsoft. The vice president designation is new to the organization's Human Resources area. According to MSF President Laurence Hubbard, "It is important that the HR role and responsibility remain at the executive level as a direct report to me as an effective voice for MSF employees and management."
New Brunswick
The WHSCC recently enhanced services for assessed employers by providing new payment options. Through Service New Brunswick, employers who are assessed annually can pay their premiums by credit card over the counter at any of 36 SNB service centers, over the phone or online. SNB is a provincial Crown corporation known internationally for its single-window service delivery concept. It provides more than 176 services to the public.
WHSCC is implementing a direct-pay prescription drug program, which will be available online at all pharmacies throughout New Brunswick in November. The program increases convenience to injured workers with eligible claims by eliminating the need to pay at the source and then submit receipts for reimbursement. It also serves to ensure that the WHSCC only pays for prescription drugs that treat the work-related condition.
The WHSCC continues to diligently promote occupational health and safety. The WHSCC's 24th Annual Health and Safety Conference is set for Oct. 17-19 in Moncton, New Brunswick.
New Mexico
New Mexico Mutual Group was recently notified by A.M. Best of our formal annual Best's Rating. The New Mexico Mutual Group, New Mexico Mutual Casualty Company and Southwest Casualty Company received an "A-, Excellent" rating with a "stable outlook." Last year, the same companies had a rating of "A, Excellent" with a "negative outlook" because of multiple years of unprofitability. Thus, the downgrade to "minus" was expected. Nonetheless, management is pleasedwith the rating given the fact that it has seen a number of challenges during the past three years. Although New Mexico did not make a profit in 2003, its operating performance improved substantially from the previous two years and is firmly positioned to improve its operating profitability in 2004. Best's Ratings are largely based on capitalization and profitability. The New Mexico Mutual Group remains highly capitalized and has implemented a strategy to return to profitability.
New York
NYSIF is observing its 90th year with a series of essays in its employee newsletter, culminating with a special anniversary edition, a banquet for long-time policyholders, a statewide celebration for staff, and an alliance with a suitable non-profit organization.
Insurance Journal magazine interviewed CEO Ken Ross for an article subtitled, "NYSIF Helps Economy, Employers and Markets Weather the Ups and Downs." Ross stated NYSIF"s No. 1 goal is "continuing to find better ways to service our customers. We don't have to be the biggest, but we have to be the best." In 2003, NYSIF insured 37 percent of the market for $1.4 billion in premium.
NYSIF launched statewide telephone etiquette training for all staff, introduced an Early Return-to-Work information kit for employers with ERTW forms available online, and received accreditation to offer Continuing Legal Education classes.
Former Claims Director Robert Sammons, who managed NYSIF's Y2K compliance program, was named chief information officer.
North Dakota
Workforce Safety & Insurance will be holding it first-ever Healthcare Summit on Oct. 29. The purpose of the summit is to gather together representatives from the medical community to discuss a wide range of topics impacting workers' compensation. Healthcare providers will learn how to actively prevent disability by efficiently spotting opportunities for intervention to reduce costs. Other breakout sessions will address how to collaborate more effectively with employers and claims managers. Keynote speakers are Dr. Jennifer Christian, a board-certified occupational medicine physician, and Tina Kielmeyer, Ohio's Bureau of Workers Compensation assistant administrator/chief operating officer. Christian is president, founder and chief medical officer of Webility Corporation, a management consulting and training organization located in Massachusetts. Kielmeyer is responsible for oversight of BWC's Finance and Human Resources divisions and the quality assurance/performance review department. Prior to being named assistant administrator, she was chief of BWC's Injury Management Services Division and was instrumental in the development and implementation of BWC's Health Partnership Program.
Northwest Territories
The Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is hosting the "What If You Couldn't?" national youth safety conference in Yellowknife on Oct. 22-24. This conference will be attended by up to 200 young workers and employers of youth. They will learn about the shared rights and responsibilities within a workplace, young workers will know how to become well-informed workplace safety ambassadors, and managers will learn how to meet the needs of young workers. Registration is $200. Forms are at www.wcb.nt.ca or www.wcbnunavut.ca.
In December 2003, both ministers responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut approved regulations under the Safety Acts that would prohibit environmental tobacco smoke—secondhand smoke—from all enclosed worksites. These regulations were implemented in both the NWT and Nunavut on May 1. There-s been widespread compliance by all industries.
Oklahoma
CompSource Oklahoma has launched a new "online services feature" for its website at compsourceok.com. Available Aug.1, this password-protected service will allow policyholders access to their policy and claims information.
The first option available under the online services menu is "Payroll Report Entry," which allows payroll data to be entered directly online. Advantages include reduced turnaround time and postage costs associated with mailing payroll reports, reduced data-entry time spent by CompSource personnel, and increased convenience for CompSource policyholders.
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has appointed a workers' compensation task force to study other states' workers' compensation programs and determine ways to improve worker benefits while reducing business costs in Oklahoma. CompSource Oklahoma's President and CEO Terry McCullar was included on the task force along with other stakeholders and experts on this issue. The group's final recommendations are expected by Oct.1 for possible action in the next legislative session.
Oregon
SAIF Corporation announced in September its year-to-date customer retention of 99.6 percent. SAIF insures nearly 47,000 Oregon employers, roughly 42 percent of the Oregon voluntary market, and is one of two insurers servicing Oregon's assigned risk pool.
On Aug. 12 , Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed Brenda Rocklin as SAIF's interim president and CEO, replacing Cecil Tibbetts, who had served as acting president for the previous eight months. Rocklin was previously director and interim director of the Oregon State Lottery. "SAIF is part of Oregon's future. It's one of the principal competitive advantages we have in growing Oregon's economy and providing jobs to Oregonians," said Kulongoski. "To preserve that future, the public needs to know that SAIF is being run in an ethical and accountable manner, and the person to lead this effort is Brenda Rocklin."
Rhode Island
The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company recently introduced a new companywide "Vision and Values" campaign designed to enhance both our customer and employee relations. The Beacon Vision Committee worked for more than a year to refine the company's vision and to detail its fundamental values. This effort came to fruition in the form of Beacon PRIDE, an acronym for the guiding principles of The Beacon: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence. To encourage employees to get involved and energized about the campaign, Beacon hosted a kick-off celebration at the IMAX theatre in Providence, including a viewing of the film "Everest." The purpose of this viewing was to explain how the realization of the company's vision and application of its values is its Everest. The goal of this campaign is to capitalize on the existing PRIDE and to help make The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company "the insurer and employer of choice in Rhode Island."
Saskatchewan
Advertising is a major component of WorkSafe Saskatchewan—the province-wide initiative to reduce the workplace injury rate spearheaded by the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board and Saskatchewan's labour department. This spring a series of television commercials led the campaign lineup. Four 15-second television commercials feature a generic animated worker in a variety of settings. In each, the character demonstrates a safety activity—clearing work areas, working in an ergonomically correct workstation, lifting correctly, and wearing proper safety equipment—while the voiceover points out the human and economic costs of workplace injuries. The WorkSafe Saskatchewan logo aids the action as a prop, becoming a desk, a heavy load, or a support for the worker to lean on. The commercials will be aired again this fall. For information or for copies of the commercials, contact Judy Orthner, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (306) 787-4651 or jorthner@wcbsask.com
Utah
Workers Compensation Fund began Aug. 9 distributing dividends totaling $20 million to 24,000 policyholders. WCF dividends were available to all eligible policyholders regardless of company or policy size. The dividend is the highest the company has paid since 1999. "This August, Workers Compensation Fund policyholders received the rewards of improved safety," said WCF President and CEO Lane Summerhays. "We commend the efforts of so many companies who are responsibly working to increase onthe-job safety." WCF saw approximately 8 percent fewer claims reported in 2003 than in 2002, as well as fewer serious injuries. "Thanks to our policyholders' efforts, combined with Workers Compensation Fund's safety training and return-to-work programs. We congratulate everyone on the year's financial success," said Summerhays.
Wyoming
The Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Division implemented a new interactive website June 1. The site is called PIERS—Providers, Injured workers, and Employers Resource System. The application iintended to improve customer service at the division and give customers the ability to retrieve case and billing information during business and nonbusiness hours. Injured workers are able to determine the status of cases, who is assigned to manage their cases, disability payment information and reimbursement payment information. Medical providers are able to determine medical bill payment information, an injured worker's case status, and look up patient's workers' compensation case numbers. Employers are able to determine the status of employees' workers' compensation cases, the loss detail information of cases and who is assigned to manage their workers' compensation accounts. The application can be accessed at http://wydoe.state.wy.us.
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