injured worker News

California Workers’ Comp Board OKs Higher Pure Premium Rate Filing

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California’s governing committee on Wednesday voted to authorize the WCIRB to submit a September 1, 2025 Pure premium rate filing on average 11.2% percent above the average approved September 1, 2024 advisory pure …

California Workers’ Comp Public Self-Insured Losses Rise Despite Claim Volume Decline

Increases in average medical payments and average indemnity payments drove public self-insureds’ total paid losses up last year even though the number of claims fell, a new report shows. The California Workers’ Compensation Institute reviewed the initial report on fiscal …

Washington Workers’ Comp Scam Exposed by Gym Trips

A Washington man is being charged in a felony in a $28,000 workers’ compensation scam after a trip the gym seemingly exposed him. Omid Mohammadi Dashti, 41, of Renton, was charged with one count of first-degree theft. He’s accused of …

Washington Drafting New Ergonomic Rules for Airline Ground Crews

Scheduled airline ground crews, including baggage handlers and maintenance workers, file injury claims for work-related musculoskeletal disorders at more than 10 times the statewide average, according to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. WMSDs, which include strains, sprains …

Report Shows Opioid Use in California Workers’ Comp Continues to Go Down

A California Workers’ Compensation Institute analysis opioid prescription data between 2017 and 2023 from the California Department of Justice’s Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System builds on prior CWCI studies by tracking multiple opioid utilization metrics. The study examines …

Viewpoint: Landmark Workers’ Comp Subrogation Decision in Nevada

In one of the most pro-subrogation decisions in a generation, the Nevada Supreme Court has overnight turned Nevada into one of the most favorable states for workers’ compensation subrogation. With the stroke of a pen, the court in its Sept. …

WCIRB: California Workers’ Comp Written Premium in 2023 Was up Slightly

California workers’ compensation written premium in 2023 was slightly above 2022, while written premium for the first six months of 2024 is 2% lower than the first six months of 2023, a new report shows. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating …

Report Examines Migraine Drugs as a Potential Cost Driver in California Workers’ Comp

Migraine drugs represent a small percentage of prescriptions dispensed to injured workers in California, but they make up a larger share of workers’ compensation drug payments, a new report shows. Fewer than 1% of all prescriptions dispensed to injured California …

WCIRB Summarizes 2024 California Workers’ Comp Legislation

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is giving its take on bills passed and passed on by California Legislature this year. The Legislature recessed for the year and Gov. Gavin Newsom had until Sept. 30 to sign or veto any …

Washington Paper Mill Fined Nearly $650K in Machine Operator Death

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries cited and fined a mill operator in Camas following an investigation into the death of a worker who was crushed by a packing machine that had no safety guards in place. The …