The National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) announced support for an actuarial report urging an increase of the threshold of access to permanent workers’ compensation benefits by Maine employees.
During the 2002 legistative session, state lawmakers responded to a Maine Supreme Court decision, Kotch v. American Protective Services, which allowed the stacking of both job-related and non-job-related impairments, making it easier for injured workers to qualify for lifetime workers compensation benefits. L.D. 2202 overturned the decision by eliminating a provision permitting the stacking of work and non-work injuries and permitting the combination only of separate work-related injuries for determining permanent impairment.
Organized labor and the employer community recently submitted conflicting actuarial reports to the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board for a determination on where the threshold should be set for access to permanent benefits.
“NAII urges the Board to adopt a threshold in excess of 13 percent, which will reflect the significant number of cases as yet unreported in the system, and which recognizes that the reaction to the new stacking provisions will significantly increase permanent impairment claims activity in the system,” NAII wrote.
Banks Still Face Legal Claims After $25 Billion Settlement
MF Global Judge to Examine Insurance Payments for Former Executives
Daredevil CEOs May Put Companies at Risk
California Independent Contractor Law May Be Liability for Agents, Brokers
North Carolina Continues Auto Regulation Debate As Rates Stay Same for 2012
Long-time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation Affecting Insurance
Mine Safety Chief Seeks to End Complacency Over Safety
Virginia Court Grants Rehearing of Global Warming Claims Case
