injured worker News

New Mexico Approves Decrease in Workers’ Comp Loss Costs

The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance approved a rate proposal submitted by the National Council on Compensation Insurance that will reduce voluntary workers’ compensation loss costs by an average of 10.7%, to become effective for policies renewing on …

Report: It Takes 7 Years to Close Most California Workers’ Comp Claims

It takes seven years to close the vast majority of workers’ compensation claims in California, more than double the time in the median state. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released a report detailing duration drivers for California …

California Workers’ Comp Bureau Study Shows Higher L.A. Claims Frequency

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released its 2022 WCIRB Geo Study, which underscores regional differences in claim characteristics across California. Key findings include: Even after controlling for regional differences in wages and industry mix, indemnity claim frequency …

New Report on California Workers’ Comp Medical Payment Trends

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released an updated California Workers’ Compensation Aggregate Medical Payment Trends report for 2021. The latest annual report compares medical payment information from 2019 through 2021. It analyzes medical payment and utilization trends …

Washington Proposes 4.8% Workers’ Comp Increase for 2023

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries is proposing a 4.8% increase in the average price employers and workers pay for workers’ compensation insurance in 2023. Employers and workers would jointly pay an additional $61 a year on average for …

Oregon Workers’ Comp Costs to Drop for 10th Year

Oregon employers will pay less for workers’ compensation coverage on average next year, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The DCBS said the decline in costs marks 10 years of average decreases in the pure premium …

California Private Self-Insured Claim Frequency Hit 14-Year High in 2021

Workers’ compensation claim frequency among California’s private self-insured employers last year hit the highest level since 2007 as both medical-only and indemnity claim volume rose, according to a California Workers’ Compensation Institute review of initial data from the state Office …

Report: Ibuprofen Now Most Heavily Used Drug in California Workers’ Comp

New data shows the types of drugs used to treat injured workers in California, and the distribution of payments for those medications, has shifted over the past decade, with opioids becoming far less prevalent and anti-inflammatory drugs accounting for an …

Report: California Workers’ Comp Written Premium for 2021 Down 2%

California written premium for 2021 was 2% below 2020 and 14% below 2019, a new report shows. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California issued released its quarterly experience report, an update on California statewide insurer experience valued as …

California Business Owners Arraigned for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Three California business owners were arraigned for insurance fraud this week after an investigation reportedly showed they illegally conspired to lower workers’ compensation premiums. Troy Williams, 49, of Angels Camp, Nanci Morman, 68, of Somerset, and John Allison, 63, of …