Latest Workers' Compensation Headlines

News Briefs

Sep 5 2005 // NAMIC ENCOURAGES RATE MODERNIZATION IN HAWAII: The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies has told a Hawaii legislative committee that passing rate modernization laws would benefit state commerce and insurance...

Sep 5 2005 // Barbara Zimmerman has joined IBA West as membership benefits vice president. She will be responsible for the research, development and management of IBA West Service Corporation programs and management of Membership...

ACE’s U.S. Subsidiaries Upgraded

Sep 5 2005 // A.M. Best Co. upgraded the financial strength ratings to “A+” (superior) from “A” (excellent) and assigned issuer credit ratings of “aa-” to ACE Westchester Specialty Group,...

DOCTORS PROTEST WORKERS’ COMP PAYMENTS:

Sep 5 2005 // Doctors are protesting the state’s attempt to freeze their workers’ compensation payments at 1995 levels. The Vermont Medical Society maintains that the low rates are hurting doctors–and making it...

ARIZ. RULING MAY THREATEN WORKPLACE SAFETY:

Sep 5 2005 // The Arizona Supreme Court has invalidated what the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America believes was a valuable law designed to help provide drug and alcohol-free working environments, according to PCI...

Texas Gov. Names Betts Div. of Workers’ Comp Commissioner

Sep 2 2005 // Texas Gov. Rick Perry has named Albert Betts Jr. of Austin as commissioner of the Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2007. He is being appointed to...

Washington’s L&I Proposes 3.8 Percent Boost in 2006 Workers’ Comp Rates

Sep 1 2005 // Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries proposed increasing hourly workers’ compensation insurance rates by an average of 3.8 percent in 2006. If adopted, the higher premiums would cover anticipated...

Division of Workers’ Compensation Begins at TDI Sept. 1

Aug 30 2005 // On Sept. 1, 2005, the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission is abolished and the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) begins at the Texas Department of Insurance. This transition is the result of House Bill...

Mo. Legislature to Address Comp Glitch

Aug 30 2005 // Senate Bill 1, Missouri’s new workers’ comp reform law, contains a drafting error the legislature intends to address during a special session set to take place in mid September. However, since the law goes into...

Farmers Notes 10.5% Workers’ Comp Reduction for Okla. Customers

Aug 30 2005 // The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies announced a 10.5 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates for its Oklahoma business customers reportedly due to an improving insurance marketplace. This 10.5 percent...

Certified Workers Compensation Counselor Program (CWCC)

Aug 29 2005 // “Transforming the Landscape of Workers Compensation” When: October 17-19, 2005 Where: Town Center Southfield, Michigan Instructor: Maureen Gallagher LIC, CIC, CWCP, CRM, CWCA, RPLU, CILMA Cost: $1500 For more...

Former Okla. Poultry Worker Ordered to Pay Restitution in Fraud Case

Aug 29 2005 // A Jay, Okla., woman received a three-year deferred sentence and was ordered to pay $3,692.50 in restitution after pleading guilty in Delaware County District Court, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson said. Gregoria...

California’s State Fund to Disclose Broker Commissions to Policyholders

Aug 28 2005 // California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund announced that it will disclose broker commissions to policyholders beginning Oct. 1, 2005. Insurance quotes and terms letters will display the commission rate paid to...

PCI Says: N.C. Legislature Passed Important Workers’ Comp Reforms

Aug 26 2005 // As North Carolina lawmakers prepare for adjournment after a long session, they can claim credit for passing important reforms to the state’s workers compensation system and identity theft protection legislation this...

Four Pa. Employers Charged in Workers’ Comp Scam

Aug 26 2005 // Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry’s (L&I) Bureau of Workers’ Compensation compliance unit announced the prosecution of four employers for reportedly failing to maintain...

Trial Date Set for R.I. Nightclub Owners Over Workers’ Comp Payments

Aug 25 2005 // The owners of a Rhode Island nightclub where 100 people were killed in a 2003 fire are scheduled to go to trial Sept. 30 to determine whether they are able to pay tens of thousands of dollars to the families of workers...

Utah Supreme Court Rules on Status of WCF Ownership

Aug 25 2005 // The Utah Supreme Court has declared that Workers Compensation Fund’s assets are owned by policyholders, not the State of Utah. The ruling in favor of WCF settles long-standing challenges by the State of Utah and...

Texas Workers’ Comp Transition Team Seeks Comment on Rule Development Priorities

Aug 25 2005 // The Texas Department of Insurance/Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Transition Team announced it is soliciting comments on the development of HB 7 Rule Priority Options, including the proper sequencing of rule...

Physicians Recognized for Treating Workers’ Compensation Patients

Aug 24 2005 // Five Florida physicians received the 2005 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation, an honor granted to physicians who demonstrate excellence in treating injured employees. Former Secretary of Health and Human...

Wausau President Tells Stakeholders to Aim for ‘Noble Goals’ of Original U.S. Workers’ Comp System

Aug 24 2005 // The U.S. workers’ compensation system needs evolutionary changes, but all industry stakeholders must never lose sight of the original “noble” goals from nearly a century ago, according to Wausau Insurance...